The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1880-09-01
THE DRAGON FLY.
Something About the Natural Enemy of
Moths, Sfillers and Mosquitoes.

Moths, Millers and Mosquitoes.
One of the most beautiful and beneficial
insects of the summer season, and one whose
services are least appreciated by the agricul-
turist, is the common dragon fly. There are
many varieties, comprising an extensive and
beautiful group of large-sized insects, rival
ing our butterflies in gracefulness of form
and brilliancy of cOloring, while they excel
them in rapidity of flight Various popular
names have been given them in different
countries. The French call them ''demois-
elles" the Germans 'gauZe flies" and ''vir-
gins of the water,r while among the Eng
lish they are known as dragon flies, - ''horse
stingers' and devils darning-needles. The
first of the English names is appropriate TO
the character of the fly for, among other in
sects it fully earns its title of dragon" 1t is
not "horse singer however, can neither
bite, sting nor poison, and as a devils darn
ing-needle' does not sew up the mouths of
those children who are given to romancing.
They are perfectly harmless to man, and can
be handled without danger.
The dragon fly belongs to the order "Neu-
roptera" and the family "Libellulid;e"
They have six legs and four wings, in aver
age specimens the body attains a length of
an inch and half or two inches. They are
almost universally dressed in the gayest coll
ors The body il variously banded with
rich shades of blue, green and yellow, and
the wings give off the must beautiful rides
cent and metallic reflections. The substance
of the wings is a delicate network covered
by thin, transparent membrane combining
great strength with lightning, which enables
it to fly and dart upon its prey with the
greatest rapidity. The long tail, or needle"
undoubtedly acts as rudder to steady its
fight. 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 upper
lip is broad and conceals powerful
toothed mandibles, and there are other
organs of the mouth armed with
strong teeth which enable il TO rend and
masticate its food. The most remarkable fea-
ture of the month is the lower lip, large
fas, lobed organ, closing the mouth from the
under side, and which can be projected for
ward to comparatively great distance when
Seizing lis prey During July and August
the various species of Libellula and its allies
most abound, the female at this time being
actively engaged in the disposition of eggs
which are glued in punches to the streams
of leaver or grass stalks just beneath the sur
face of the water. These eggs soon hatch and
produce larva which bears distinct resem-
blance to the perfect dragon fiy The larva
is very active, and passes its existence in the
larva of other noxious aquatic insects. 1t
possesses a curious hydraulic apparatus
by which it discharges stream
of water for the distance of two
or three inches behind it, propelling the
insect forward. The motion thus given is
very irregular, and its direction appears TO
be beyond the control of the larya. The
curious apparatus serves for respiration as
well as locomotion. From the larva it passes
into the pupa state, and still more resembles
the perfect insect. 1t is very attractive
crawling over the bottom of the pool or
pond in its search for food, preying mostly
upon those insects which are injurious to
man. 1t only acts well its part in main
tanning the balance of life, but cieanses the
swamps of mismata, thus purifying the air
We breathe. 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 cOndi-
ton of larva or pupa, and ii inhabits the air
only three or four weeks. When about To
complete its final transformation, the
pupa climb up some suitable place near the
surface of the water, attaches itself firmly
TO some object and ina 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 fullest confidence
TO the new element, in which he lives but
few short summer days.
uecCTlUtS THESE
changes the Two Voices"
To-day 1 saw the dragon fly
Come from the wells where he did lie,
An inner impulse rent the veil
OF his old husk; from head to tail
Came out clear plates of sapphire mail.
He dried his wings; like gauZe they grew;
Through crofts and pastures wet with dew
living flash of life he fiew"
During It's existence OF three or tour weeks
above the waters, its life is continued good
to man. 1t hawks over pools and fields and
through gardens decimating swarns of mos
quitoes, flies, gnats and other baneful insects.
Their rapid flight and enormous range of vi
sion enable them to capture these insects
withease. They destroy multitudes of moths
and millers, whose larve are injurious TO
vegetation while they do not iniure any pro-
duct of the agriculturist themselves. A few
of them shut into house would soon rid it
of flies, bugs and mosquitoes. They are per-
fectly harmless, and can be. handled with
impunity, 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.