LIBELLULA 225 
spiracle, the second nearly horizontal and seeming to be continued to rearward 
by yellow spots underneath the swollen base of the abdomen. Legs blackish, 
paler at base. Wings spotted with brown as shown in accompanying figure; 
costa, arculus, and nodal cross veins yellowish; stigma blackish; 10 chalky white 
spots develop with age, 2 on each fore wing between the brown spots, and 3 on 
each hind wing, one at anal angle. Abdomen brown with 2 pale stripes upon the 
sides running the entire length, and a narrow pale streak bordering the middorsal 
carina on the middle segments. The abdomen of the female tapers all the way 
to the tip, less strongly than in the male. Appendages brownish, becoming black 
with age. 
This is a beautiful, wide ranging species, a lover of the ponds but a frequent 
visitor along the “rivers, creeks and roadsides, in woods, fields and open places,”’ 

Fie. 40. The Tenspot, Libellula pulchella. 
(Muttkowski ’08). ‘““Common not merely along the lake but far inland over the 
potato and corn fields; too wary to be caught easily..... Several individuals 
.... Were observed going to roost for the night in the tall iron weed along a 
dried up overflow bottom. When roosting they flatten back against the vertical 
stem of the weed instead of holding their bodies horizontal as is done when they 
alight in the daytime, possibly as a protection against the rain” (Wilson ’09). 
This is a very familiar dragonfly and a typical skimmer. Wherever 
it occurs it is sure to be in evidence, flying much and resting little 
during hours of sunshine. It flies horizontally several feet above the 
water. The female oviposits unattended, usually over submerged green 
vegetation in bays and shoals. Striking the water at points wide apart 
and striking it with a vigor that often sweeps a drop from the surface 
to fall back with a splash a foot farther ahead. The cast skins are left 
at transformation several feet from the shore and usually in grass or 
weeds, 
