1900] 



ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



55 



The species of the genua Libellula arc all handsome insects. Their abdomens are 

 dagger shaped, ridged down the middle, sloping to an edge on either side and pointed at 

 the extremity. The female of Trimaculata has three brown patches on each of its wngs 

 — one patch at the base, one in the centre, and one at the tip. The spaces betwp^n are 

 clear. The male (Fig. 10) has a patch at 

 the base of each vping, but the tip of 

 each is clear, and there is a large brown 

 patch in the centre extending from 

 thf costa to the inner margin. The 

 abdomen of the male is of a bluish 

 white, as if it had been painted. A 

 much larger and more beautiful insect 

 is Pulchella This also has three 

 patches on each wing, but of a richer 

 brown than in the last instance, and 

 the spaoes between the patches are 

 clear white. Quadrimaculata is an- 

 other very beautiful insect in this 

 genus. It may be known by the 

 golden yellow streak, and the two rich 

 brown spots on each wing, and the angulated patch. at the base of the secondaries. The 

 abdomen of this handsome insect is brown, and has a row of yellow spots on eiiher side. 

 Quadrimaculata is found in Europe as well as in America. It was named by Linneus. 

 It is very plentiful at the " Gomin," It breeds, no doubt, in the pools that lie to the 

 south of the swamp. 



Of the genus Diplax, rubicundida seems the most common of our species. It 

 abounds on the Chaudiere River. Insects of this genus may be readily known by their 

 smaller size, their awl-shaped abdomens, and the very distinct stigmata of thf-ir hyaline 

 wings. ( Fig. 1 1 is the male of Diplax Berenice ; Fig. 1 2 the female ; Fig. 1 3 Diplax Elisa). 



FiR. 10. 



Fig. 11. 



Fig. 12. 



And now it may be atked, what useful purpose do the dragon-flies serve in the 

 economy of Nature? We will take the liberty of meeting this question with oae or two 

 more. Did you ever go into the woods when 

 the Hiosquitos were in strength, and thirsty for 

 blood 1 Did you ever sail on one of our rivers 

 — the Ottawa for example — when the shad flies 

 covered every inch above the tide of the vessel 

 you were in ? If you have, you will have said 

 to yourself, if not to others, what a nuisance 

 these things are ! Now the dragon-fly spends 

 the who'e of its existence in the endeavour to 

 keep down the numbers of such pests as these. 

 It is a sportsman ever on the watch for its game, 

 and when this comes in view it pursues it with 

 energy and success. If it were not for the dragon- flies acd other predacious tribes the 

 troublesome insects would increase to an intolerable extent. 



