AN ANNOTATED LIST OF THE ODONATA OF INDIANA. 

 by e. b. williamson. 



Introduction. 



Our knowledge of Indiana Odonata began in 1S39 when Thomas Say 

 recorded 1-7 species for the state. This seems hardly a good start since many 

 an old gravel pit on a favorable day may yield a larger number of species. 

 In Ohio, Hine and Osburn took 58 species during a week's collecting. But 

 Say was not a specialist in the group, and in 1839 that great specialist, de 

 Selys, had published only the third one of his many later papers, while Hagen 

 in the same year made his first contribution to entomology. Burmeister and 

 Rambur's books on Neuroptera appeared in 1839 and 1842. Say's odonate 

 publication, too, it must not be forgotten, was the result of earlier studies 

 and was published posthumously. Thus considering the time and circum- 

 stances together with the range of Say's activities, the start does not seem 

 to be so poor. Following the publication of Say's paper there was a gaj) of 

 56 years before a paper dealing exclusively with Indiana dragonflies ap- 

 peared, and it recorded only 14 species as against Say's 17. Jndiana was too 

 far west to be visited by the eastern entomologists and too far east to share 

 in the great western explorations of the period. 



The present list of dragonflies brings our knowledge of the distrilnition 

 of these insects within the state up to date, and such references to the litera- 

 ture* are included as will enable students to identify species not described 

 or not well described in my paper, "The Dragonflies of Indiana," Indiana 

 Geological Report for 1S99. References to this list will show that records 

 for the southern half of the state are practically wanting. As a matter of 

 fact the entire list is based largely on random field worlx, carried on as opi)or- 

 tunity permitted and done almost entirely on Sundays and all too rare holi- 

 days. The records, both as regards dates and localities, are based in every 

 case upon specimens examined except where the contrary is noted, and. as 

 here published, are condensed from detailed data in my possession. For 

 convenience each month is divided into thirds, i-io, Ti-20 and 21-30 or 31. 

 Where no figures follow the month, the dragonfly under discussion has been 

 taken in all three divisions of the month. 



* These references are groujied at the end of the list. The nnmhers following the 

 specific names in the list refer to corresponding nnmhers in the hildiography. 



