XVII] BIONOMICS, ETC. 335 



race. Apart from the single record of Anax larvae destroying 

 the young fry in fish hatcheries, all the evidence is in favour of 

 them. We do not yet know the value of their services to us 

 in the destruction of- millions of other insects, both larvae and 

 imagines, in the areas which they frequent. I feel persuaded that 

 this service is greater than it appears. Not only are the Dragonflies 

 the most powerful determining factor in preserving the balance of 

 insect life in ponds, rivers, lakes and their surroundings, but they 

 do most certainly make war upon the flies, mosquitoes and gnats 

 which we all desire to see exterminated. I believe that a successful 

 checking of the mosquito pest in the ornamental waters of parks 

 and gardens could be readily obtained by the introduction of 

 species whose larvae, as well as the imagines, would prey upon 

 the nuisance. If a successful planting of a colony of Dragonflies 

 in such a position were to be tried, the species selected might 

 also be chosen for its colouring, and thus add a new note of 

 interest to the locality. The glorious red Orthetrum villosovittatum 

 has now become well established in the Botanical Gardens at 

 Brisbane, and certainly adds a vivid touch of colour to its lovely 

 surroundings. 



It is extraordinary how the idea that Dragonflies are harmful, 

 and possess a powerful sting, continues to hold sway even amongst 

 people who claim to be educated. The old proverb "Give a dog 

 a bad name, and hang him" is particularly applicable to this case. 

 If an insect is known to all the country-side as a "horse-stinger,^ 

 how can a mere scientist hope to convince them that it does not 

 sting horses. In the course of my travels in Australia, I have 

 collected evidence, on the solemn word of various settlers in 

 Queensland, that the gigantic Petalura and Anax have not only 

 done to death various horses and cows, but in one instance even 

 attacked the farmer's wife! Fortunately the Dragonfly now 

 forms one of the stock object-lessons in the Nature Study cur- 

 riculum of the Queensland schools. So we may hope that this 

 ignorance will soon be a thing of the past. 



There is a record of Dragonflies being used as food by man. 

 It is said that the inhabitants of certain Malay Islands, where 

 these insects are very numerous, smear long sticks with a kind 

 of bird-lime. By deftly wielding these sticks, they capture a 

 large number of Dragonflies, which are made into a kind of paste 



