136 



Smith and Pritchard: Odonata 



Fig. 4:57. Wings of Pantala flavescens 

 (Needhom and Westfall, 1955). 



lateral anal appendage about four-fifths as long as 

 superiors lacerata 



Genus Pantala Hagen, 1861 



These strong fliers are our most wide-ranging dragon- 

 flies. P. flavescens (Fabr.) (fig. 4:57) is cosmopolitan 

 and has frequently been reported migrating in large 

 numbers. It is one of the first species to move into 

 new waters, especially where there is a rich growth 

 of green algae. They prefer sunny open spaces where 

 they fly tirelessly, usually at almost the same level 

 (about five feet from ground). 



Key to California Species 



Adults 



1. Hind wing with a distinct brown spot at anal angle 



(Canada to Chile) hymenaea (Say) 1839 



— Hind wing with only flavescence proximally (fig. 4:57) 

 (world-wide) flavescens (Fabricius) 1798 



Fig. 4:59. Agri'on aequabi le. a, wings of male; b, wings 

 of female; c, lateral view of second abdominal segment of male; 

 d, dorsal view of male abdominal appendages; e, penis; f-g, 

 naiad; h, labium of naiad (Kennedy, 1915). 



the distal edge of the lobe; lateral setae 12-14; mental 

 setae 15 flavescens 



ZYGOPTERA 



Naiads 



1. Body pattern of brown conspicuous; movable hook of 

 lateral lobe of labium twice as long as the crenulations 

 of the distal edge of the lobe; lateral setae 15; mental 



setae 17-18 hymenaea 



— Body pattern pale; movable hook of lateral loLe of 

 labium less than twice as long as the crenulations of 



Fig. 4:58. Wings of Dythemis ve/ox 

 (Needham and Westfall, 1955). 



Family AGRIONIDAE (= CALOPTE RYGIDAE) 



The family Agrionidae has been referred to as the 

 Agriidae and the Calopterygidae in certain of the 

 more recent papers on North American damselflies. 

 We accept the designation of Latreille, 1810, of 

 Libellula virgo Linnaeus as the type of genus Agrion; 

 and Calopteryx Leach, 1815, with the same type 

 species, is, therefore, a synonym. 



These insects have broad wings with metallic 

 bodies, and they flutter conspicuously along permanent 

 streams. Naiads are protectively colored, and they 

 awkwardly cling to roots and stems of submerged 

 vegetation and trash in the stream. 



Key to Neorctic Genera 



Adults 



1. Wing with cross veins before arculus (fig. 4:61a) . . . 



Hetaerina 



— Wing without cross veins before arculus (fig. 4:59a, b) 

 Agrion 



