226 DRAGONFLIES OF NORTH AMERICA 
200. Libellula forensis Hagen 
Hag. 61, p. 154: Mtk. Cat. p. 137: Ris ’10, p. 265: Smn. ’26, p. 33. 
Length 50 mm. Expanse 89 mm. B. C. to Calif., Mont. to Ariz. 
The western equivalent of L. pulchella, differing from that species most 
markedly in lacking the brown color on the tips of the wings. 
201. Libellula quadrimaculata Linne 
Linne. 1758, p. 548: Mtk. Cat. p. 189: Wlsn. ’09, p. 657: Ris’10, p. 251: Whths. 
717, p. 101: Howe ’20, p. 72: Garm. ’27, p. 251. 
Syn: maculata Harris, Var: praenubila Newman, quadripunctata Fabr., 
ternaria Say 
Length 45 mm. Expanse 74 mm. N. Am. 
A handsome slender brownish species of wide holarctic distribution. Face 
yellow, labrum bordered and traversed with black. Vertex yellow, with black 
cross stripe, through the ocelli, before it. Occiput yellow with brown outer 
angles. Thorax tawny, yellow with dense pubescence of same color. Narrow 
black lines follow the sinuous lateral sutures (stripes 3 and 5), abbreviated below 
on middle one and confluent beneath 2 obscure yellowish spots. Legs blackish, 
paler basally. Wings spotted, as shown in figure, the basal triangular brown spot 
of hind wing traversed by whitish veins; stigma brown. Abdomen hairy at base, 
olive brown on swollen basal segments; mostly blackish on strongly tapering 
apical segments, with a narrow streak of yellow running lengthwise just above 
the lateral margin. Appendages blackish. 
This gregarious, typical holoarctic Libellula has been well charac- 
terized by many writers in the group. Wilson (’09) reported it, 
Everywhere in company with erusta; when it alights it does not squat, but 
perches on a twig, holding its body horizontal even if the twig is vertical. It is 
gregarious, from 12 to 15 or 20 alighting on the same stalk or twig. It is not wary 
but neither is it inquisitive like L. erusta..... Found by the hundreds in an 
old lumber yard, .... every stick, stub and bush alive with them. They were 
very tame, alighting not merely on the net but also on the hand and arm and 
all over the clothing. 
The senior author, on the contrary, has found them (’01) somewhat 
shy and difficult to capture. 
They are common about lakes, rivers, moist woods from May to 
August, (Muttkowski ’08). Of their ovipositing, Whitehouse (’17) 
writes: “‘I once observed a female ovipositing with a mate hovering 
by. Twice they went into copula for short periods between spells of 
ovipositing—which however she performed alone.”’ 
202. Libellula nodisticta Hagen 
Hag. ’61, p. 151: Mtk. Cat. p. 1388: Ris ’10, p. 264: Kndy. ’17, p. 608. 
Length 48 mm. Expanse 82 mm. Mont. and Wash. to Calif. and Nev. 
A stout heavy western species. Face obscure yellowish, darkened on border 
