The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1880-08-26
The Dragon Fly Useful and Chap.
prcciated Insect.

One of the most beautiful and bene-
fetal insects of the summer season, and
one whose services are least appre-
ciated by the agriculturist. is the COM
mon dragon-hv. There are many va
rieties, comprising an extensive and
beautiful group Of large-sized insects,
rivaling our butterflies in gracefulness
of form and brilliancy Of co'oring,
while they excel them in rapidity Of
flight. Various popular names have
been given them in different countries.
The French call them ''Demoiselles,"
the Germans ''Gauze Flies'' and ''Vir-
gins of the Water" while among the
English they are known as dragon
Flies" "Horse Stingers," and ''Devils
Darning Needles. Z" The first of the
English names is very apT ropriate to
the character of the fly, for, among
other insects, it fully earns its title Of
dragon" 1t is not '.horse stinger,"
however, can neither bite, sting nor
poison. and as "'devirs darning-
needle does not sew up the mouths of
those children who are given to ro-
mancing. They are perfectly harmless
to man, and can be handled without
danger.
The dragon fly belongs to the order
s'Neuroptera'' and the family "Libellu-
lid:e.' They have six legs and four
wings. in average specimens the body
attains the length of an inch and IL
half or two inches. They are almost
universally dressed in the gayest col
ors. The body is variously banded
with rich shades of blue, green and yell
low. and the wings give off the most
beautiful iridescent and metallic reflec-
tions. The substance of the wings is =
delicate network, covered by thin,
transparent membrane, combining
great strength with lightness, which en-
ables it to lily and dart upon its prey
with the greatest rapidity. The long
tail, or needle" undoubtedly acts as
q rudder to steady its flight. The large
head is provided with two enormous
compound eyes, composed of many
thousand facets, and their great power
of vision is still further increased by
three simple eyes or ocelli, on the upper
portion of the head. The mouth is
quite formidable structure. The up
per lip is broad, and conceals powerful
toothed mandibles, and there are other
organs of the mouth armed with strong
teeth which enable it to rend and mas
ticate its food.
The natural term of life of the dragon
fly is about one year. Most of its ex-
istence is passed in the water in the
condition Of larva or pupa. and it in
habits the air only three or four weeks.
When about to complete its final trans
formation the pupa climbs up some
suitable place near the surface OF the
water, attaches itself firmly to some OBJ
iect, and in short time the skin opens
along the back. and from the rent there
soon appears the perfect dragon fly,
who, after drying his moist wings,
trusts his untried pinions with the full
est confidence to the new element, in
which he lives but few short summer
days.
Tennyson beautifully describes these
changes in the 1.-Two Voices:
''To-day saw the dragon fly
Come from tho wells where he did lie.
An inner impulse rent the veil
OF his old musk: from head to tail
Came out clear plates of sapphire mail.
He dried his wings: like aailze they grew;
living flash of light he few.
During its existence of three or four
weeks above the waters its whole life is
a continued good to man. 1t hawks
over pools and through gardens. deci-
mating swarms of mosquitoes, flies.
onats and other baneeul insects. Their
rapid flight and enormous range of Wis
ion enable them to capture these insects
with ease. They destroy multitudes of
moths and millers whose larv@ are inju-
rious to vegetation, while they do not
injure any product of the agriculturist
themselves. A few of them smut into q
house would soon rid it of flies, bugs
and mosquitoes. They are perfectly
harmless. and can be handled with inn
punity, and are an interesting subject
for study, as there still remains much
to be learned of their natural history.
The dragon fly is widely distributed
over all parts Of the globe, but few.
however, exceed in size or beauty those
of our own country.-C0r. Worcester
Mass. Spy.