357 

 CUMBERLAND DRAGONFLIES. 



F. H. DAY, F.E.S. 



Leucorrhinia dubia Lind. Apparently a very local species 

 in Cumberland, but I met with it in abundance in June and 

 July last on Cumwhitton Moss. There are many similar 

 ' mosses ' in the county, most of which I have collected over, 

 without however noticing this striking insect. The male is 

 more abundant than the female. The flight of this species is 

 somewhat slow, and it loves to skim over the surface of ponds 

 and ditches, and hover gracefully over clumps of rushes or 

 other aquatic vegetation, but it is easily alarmed and then 

 darts off with a soaring flight far beyond the reach of a net. 

 It also takes short, jerky flights over the heather, alighting on 

 a patch of exposed peat, and tempting one into pursuit, but 

 on the rough ground this is not always an easy matter. 



Sympetrum scoticum Don. A typical ' moss " dragonfly, 

 but at the same time decidedly local. It is common in the 

 Bowness-on-Solway district. Other localities are Lazonby 

 Fell, Orton, and near Keswick. It occurs throughout August. 

 Occasionally it occurs in marshy meadows far away from its 

 usual habitat. It haunts the ditches and ponds on the ' mosses,' 

 but often indulges in flight over the heather. Owing to its 

 inconspicuous colours, it is not easily followed. Examples of 

 immature development are much easier to see when in flight. 



Libellula quadrimaculata Linn. Another ' moss ' species 

 which I have taken on Bolton Fell, Newton Reigny, Bowness 

 and Hay ton Mosses. It is an earlier species than the last. My 

 earliest date is May 25th. I saw many (and captured some) 

 in the first week of August this year, which were getting 

 tattered and faded, albeit still strong on the wing. I have 

 sometimes found it resting among the heather on sunless 

 days. 



Orthetrum ccerulescens Fabr. I captured a male of this 

 insect in Borrowdale on June 30th, 1903 (E.M.M., 1904, 

 p. 111). I am unaware of its further occurrence in Cumberland. 



Cordulegaster annulatus Latr. This species occurs with us 

 only in the Lake district so far as I am aware. It is a most 

 vigorous insect on the wing, often flying far out across the 

 water and in consequence is difficult to capture, although not 

 at all scarce. I have it noted from Derwent water, Ullswater, 

 Crummock and Buttermere, for the month of July. 



sEschna juncea Linn. Fairly common in Cumberland. 

 Localities are Orton, Newton Reigny Moss, Wan Fell, Cum- 

 whitton Moss and Bowness Moss. In the first-named locality 

 it frequents lanes on the outskirts of the wood, and I have 

 found the nymphs in boggy ponds in clearings in the wood. 

 The other localities are open peat mosses where the insect may 



1917 Nov. 1. 



