ARGIA 293 
Dorsum of abdominal segments 1-7 metallic black except for narrow interrupted 
basal rings of yellow on segments 3-7. and apical rings on 1 and 7; dorsum of 
8-10 blue. Sides of 1-2 pale, of 3-6 pale with the apical fourth black, of 7-10 
black. 
Female.—Head entirely pale with a few isolated black streaks or spots. 
Thorax as in the male. Abdomen with the mid-carina blue, dorsum black, and 
sides mainly pale, on segments 2-7. Dorsum of 8-9 blackish with a dorsal yellow 
longitudinal stripe and dark brown and yellow on the sides; 10 dark above, 
paler on the sides. 
Garman (’17, p. 505) says it is 
A common species along all large-sized streams in Illinois. The nymphs live 
in the mud at the bottom, but when mature approach the banks and hide among 
dead submerged weeds or rubbish. The eggs are deposited below the water on 
driftwood, and large numbers of females may sometimes be seen congregated 
about the old log at the water’s edge depositing eggs. 
e: 
Se 
The following notes concerning this species are from a field record 
made by the senior author at Galesburg, IIl., in 1895. 

Pale straw yellow males and females appeared first about the middle of May. 
These fluttered along in a weak and halting manner through the grass as if their 
flying apparatus were not quite equal to the task of carrying them. Older and 
sturdier bright blue males and lilac females gradually replaced these pale ones. 
The species flies slowly at best and spends most of its time resting on grass 
stems and on twigs and pebbles near the water. It preys upon a large midge 
(a Chironomid) which is common in the same situations. It is oftener preyed 
upon, for many wings of this species may be seen in the calla-shaped ground 
webs of spiders, common on the slopes. 
The nymphs cling to submerged vegetation, usually with the caudal gills 
slightly elevated and slowly swaying back and forth. When on dead small leaved 
aquatics, there is striking likeness of the broad gills to small brown leaves; and 
their motion hardly impairs their concealment, for it is like that of leaves swayed 
by currents in the water. 
The nymphs are readily fed on entomostraca. They crawl slowly and swim 
indifferently by sculling with their broad gills. Transformation takes place early 
in the forenoon, a few inches from the edge of the water. 
278. Argia bipunctulata (Hagen) 
Hag. ’61, p. 90: Mtk. Cat. p. 45: Garm. ’27, p. 88. 
Syn: bipustulata Kirby 
Length 28 mm. Expanse 32 mm. N. Y. to Fla. 
