38 MISC. PUBLICATION 318, U. S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE 
winter as nymphs in water, particularly in ponds and lakes, and may 
be considered of some value as enemies of flies and mosquitoes and as 
fish food. The life changes are incomplete. The species shown here 
is the 10-spotted dragontly (Libellula pulchella). Its body is about 
2 inches long and its wing expanse about 314 inches. This insect 
belongs to the order Odonata. 
Damsel flies——There is another group of the Odonata called 
damsel flies. They have long, narrow bodies with shiny wings that 
taper rather sharply to the point where 
they are attached to the body. When at 
rest these wings are folded rather close to 
the body. These insects have chewing 
mouth parts, and the adults catch small in- 
sects from the air during flight. The 
nymphs feed on small insects and other 
aquatic animals, and winter usually in 
small streams. The life changes of the 
damsel fly are incomplete, These insects 
are of some importance, as are the dragon- 
flies, and for the same reasons. The species 
shown here is the black-winged damsel fly 
(Agrion maculatum). It has a body about 
134 inches long and a wing expanse of 21% inches. In this species the 
wings are shiny black and the body metallic green with black on the 
thorax. 
Termites.—In recent years we have been hearing more and more 
about a little insect pest that has caused destruction to frame build- 
ings. Many people call this insect the white ant. It 
is really not. an ant but a termite, which belongs to 
the order Isoptera. Termites differ from ants in that 
the body is of fairly uniform width throughout its 
entire length, whereas the body of the ant appears 
pinched in the middle to almost a thread. Termite 
wings are about twice as long as the body, whereas 
the wings of the ant are about as long as the body. 
The members of this family are social and live in 
colonies as honeybees do. Each species has a number 
of different forms or castes within the colony. Most 
people make the acquaintance of termites during 
swarming season, at which time they come out in 
great. droves from around the floor or foundation of PLCURE ape 
an infested house. Termites during the swarming 
season have four rather large wings, loosely attached to the body. 
The workers of this group of insects are the ones that cause damage 
by chewing the wooden parts of houses, but they also work on a 
great many plant or animal products. Most species of termites work 
under cover and must have contact with soil moisture. In nature, 
termites can be found feeding almost any place where there is dead 
wood on or in the ground. The species shown here is Peticuls- 
termes flavipes, and this worker is about one-fourth of an inch long. 
Control measures vary according to conditions. 
Earwigs.—Collectors often come across insects with hooklike ap- 
pendages on the hind portion of the body. These, no doubt, are 
earwigs, which belong to the order Dermaptera. They have chewing 
FIGURE 96.—Damsel fly. 
