270 ] The Wonderful Ways of Insects and Spiders 



crawling out of the water, up a tree trunk, water plant, or other 

 support. 



Sure of its support, it now strains at its armor-like covering until 

 the skin of its back splits along its length; then very carefully 

 it begins to pull its soft body from the shell. When this has been 

 accomplished, the two pairs of transparent, glistening wings 

 expand and harden. Sometimes these wings are beautifully tinted 

 in *blue and brown. The insect has an elongated body, and its 

 great, compound eyes cover almost the entire surface of its head. 



The Damsel Fly: It is quite a puzzle to distinguish the dragonfly 

 from its close relative the damsel fly. They are alike in many 

 ways, but the dragonflies have larger bodies and are stronger fliers. 

 Also, the dragonfly always holds its wings outstretched when rest- 

 ing, whereas a damsel fly holds its wings together over its back. 



Insects that Live in the Water 



THE WHIRLIGIG " LUCKY BUG" 



Summer outings are a lot more fun for your children if 

 they can make the acquaintance of some of the odd little creatures 

 found in ponds and streams. One of the most easily observed is 

 the whirligig, a dark, small beetle. You may see the whirligig 

 spinning or skating in circles on the surface of the water. It is 

 known by such charming nicknames as "lucky bug," "submarine 

 chaser," and "write-my-name." 



Usually you find whirligigs in groups, sometimes made up of 

 hundreds of individuals. If they are alarmed, they make a sudden 

 dive to the bottom. They prefer shade to bright sunshine and 

 may sometimes be found out of water, resting on sticks or rocks. 



The whirligig's eyes are worth special notice; each is divided 

 so that the upper half looks into the air while the lower part 

 looks down into the water! Its legs are also specialized, the middle 

 and hind ones being broad and oarlike, while the front pair are 

 long and slender. Another strange feature of the whirligig is that 

 if you hold one in your hand for a time, you will find it gives off 

 a white milky fluid with a smell recalling that of ripe apples. 



