67 



ORDER ODONATA. 



(Dragon-flies.) 



This group of insects, which was formerly placed 

 in the Order Neuroptera on account of the beautiful 

 netted-veined wings, is now placed in a separate 

 Order — Odonata. 



Dragon-flies are known by different names in 

 different countries. In England and Australia they 

 are called "horse stingers," unfortunately, though 

 they neither sting nor bite. People will tell one 

 in the country districts of the pain inflicted on 

 man and beast by these ''stingers." 



Dragon-flies may be broadly divided into 2 

 groups : — 



A. Anisoptera, the thicker-bodied dragon-fiies 

 with unequal wings. 



B. Zygoptera, small slender dragon-flies called 

 demoiselles or damsel-flies, with equal wings. In 

 the former, the wings when in repose are held hori- 

 zontally, and the larvae are without external gill 

 plates, but have a rectal chamber at the end of 

 the abdomen, whose walls carry gills. 



In the Zygoptera, the wings are held vertically 

 over the back and the larvae have three caudal (tail) 

 gill plates. (Plate 11, Fig. i, a.) 



The metamorphosis is incomplete. 



Dragon-flies are insect-feeders and destroy large 



