488 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



EPICORDULIA 



We have a single species. 



Epicordulia princeps Hagen 



Water prince (PI. 22, fig. i) 



1861 Epitheca princeps Hagen, Synopsis Neur. N. Am. p. 134 



1875 Cordulia princeps Hagen, Bost. soc. nat. ; hist. Proc. 18 : 61 



(bibliography) 

 1893 Epicordulia princeps Calvert, Am. ent. soc. Trans. 20 : 251 (de- 

 scription) 



1899 E p i c or duli a princeps KelJieott, Odon. Ohio, p. 88 (description) 



1900 Epicordulia princeps Williamson, Dragon flies Ind. p. 310 (de- 



scription) 

 1890 Epitheca princeps Cabot, Immature state Odon. pt 3, p. 25, no. 



12, pi. 3, fig. 3 and no. 13, pi. 4, fig. 3 {jwo. nymph) 

 1889 ^'Libellulina nymphs nos. 10 and 12." Garman, 111. state lab. nat. 



hist. Bui. 3, 3 : 179 



This species is distinguishable from all the following even in flight by- 

 its large size and its brown wing blotches at nodus and stigma. It is a 

 widely distributed species, locally common where there are ponds or 

 sluggish streams with muddy, reed-grown banks. Imagos appear on the 

 wing in May and continue flying through midsummer. They seem ab- 

 solutely tireless in flight; very rarely indeed is one seen resting. The 

 males at least prefer the surface of still water, over which they will 

 sweep back and forth in zigzag lines and broad curves hour after hour. 



The nymphs sprawl on the bottom amid fallen reeds, or clamber over 

 submerged logs. In winter I have found numbers of them crowded in 

 the crevices of a submerged stump. 



Transformation takes place very early in the morning. The nymphs 

 will crawl several meters from the edge of the water if necessary in order 

 to find a proper support. They are stiff" creatures with legs set wide 

 apart, and, not being good climbers of reeds, generally seek some 

 broader supporting surface, such as the side of a stump, or a cluster of 

 grass blades. The eggs are dropped by the female while flying alone, 

 dips being made far out in open water, and widely distributed. 



Nymph. (PL 21, fig. 2) Measures in total length 27 mm ; abdomen 

 17 mm; hind femur 8 mm; width of head 7.5 mm, of abdomen 8 to 

 12 mm, there being very great variation in this last measurement. 



Since this nymph has been figured and described by Cabot, it will 

 suffice here to give a brief statement of the more distinguishing charac- 

 teristics. Head a little narrowed behind the small eyes, which cover 

 the anterolateral angles; there is a pair of low conic tubercles on the top 

 of the head, these larger in younger nymphs, and sometimes even cultri- 

 form. The statement that the young nymphs of this species do not differ 



