88 
Dragon-flies and Damsel-flies 
shows the construction of a good water-net that can be made at home out 
of a piece of grass-cloth, two sizes of wire, and a stick. 
“The best places to search for dragon-fly nymphs in general are the 
reedy borders of ponds and the places where trash falls in the eddies of 
creeks. The smaller the body of water, if permanent, the more likely it 
is to yield good collecting. The nymphs may be kept in any reasonably 
clean vessel that will hold water. Some clean sand should be placed in 
the bottom, especially for burrowers, and water-plants for damsel-fly nymphs 
to rest on. They may be fed occasionally upon such small insects (smaller 
than themselves) as a water-net or a sieve will catch in any pond. Their 
habits can be studied at leisure in a dish of water on one’s desk or table. 
“The best season for collecting them is spring and early summer. April 
and May are the best months of the year, because at this time most nymphs 
are nearly grown, and, if taken then, 
will need to be kept but a short time 
before transforming into adults. And 
this transformation every one should 
see; it will be worth a week’s work at 
the desk; and as it can be appreciated 
only by being seen, some simple direc¬ 
tions are here given for bringing the 
Fig. 120.—A simple aquarium for rear- nymphs t0 matu rity. Place them in a 
ham.) wooden pail or tub (Fig. 120). If 
the sides are so smooth that they cannot crawl up to transform, put some 
sticks in the water for them to crawl out on. Tie mosquito-netting tightly over 
the top, or, better, make a screen cover; leave three or four inches of air 
between the water and the netting; feed at least once a week, set them where 
the sun will reach them; and after the advent of warm spring weather look 
in on them early every morning to see what is going on.” 
Elsewhere Professor Needham says that nymphs may be fed bits of 
fresh meat in lieu of live insects. If meat is fed, it must be kept in motion 
before them, as they will refuse anything that does not seem alive. Some 
nymphs will take earthworms. Care must be taken to keep cannibalistic 
kinds apart from others. When the nymphs transform the freshly issued 
imagoes should be transferred each with its cast skin (exuvia) to dry boxes 
for a short time, till their body-wall and wings gain firmness and the colors 
are matured. The imago and its exuvia should always be kept together. 
Specimens of the adults for the cabinet should have the wings spread 
like butterflies and moths (for directions for spreading see the Appendix). 
The slender and brittle dried abdomen breaks off very easily, and a bristle 
or fine non-corrosive wire should therefore be passed lengthwise through 
the body as far as the tip of the abdomen. A couple of insect-pins, inserted 
