The Portland daily press., 1881-03-30
The Dragon Flv.

One of the most beautiful and beneficial in
sects of the summer season, and one whose
services are least appreciated by the agricu-
turist, is the common dragon fly There are
many varieties, comprising an extensive and
beautiful group of large sized insects, rivaling
our butterflies in gracefulness of form and
brilliancy of coloring, while they excel them
in rapidiry of flight. Various popular names
have been given them in different countries.
The French call them ''Demo;selles," the
Germans "Gause Flies" and "Virgins of the
Water" while among the English they are
known as dragon Flies" Horse Stingers,"
and Devils Darning Needles. The first of
the English names is very appropriate to the
character of the fly, for, among other insects,
it fuilykearns its title of dragon" 1t is not a
"horse singer" however, can neither bite,
sting or poison, and as "deviPs darning
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 "Libellulide." They
have six legs and four wings, in average speci-
mems the body attains a length of an inch
and a half or two inches. They are usually
dressed in the gayest colors. The body is vari.
ously banded with rich shades of blue, green
and yellow, and the wings give off the most
beautiful iridesccnt and metallic reflections.
The substance of the wings is delicate net
work, covered by thin, transparent men,
brane, combining great strength with light
ness, which enables it to fly and dart upon its
xx-,Nt IL
tail, or needle" undoubtedly acts as rudder
to steady its flight. The large head is pro-
vided with two enormous compound ewes
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 a
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 it to rend and
mastIcate its food. The most remarkable fea-
ture of the mouth is the lower lip, large, flat,
lobed organ closing the mouth from the under
side, which can be projected forward to a COM
paratively great distance when Selling its prey
During July and August the various species of
Libellula and its allies most abound the fe-
male at this time being actively engaged in
the deposition of her eggs, which are glued in
punches to the stems of leaves of grass stalks
just beneath the surface of the water. These
eggs soon hatch and produce Larvae which
have distant resemblance to the perfect drag
on fly. The larvae IS very active, and passes
its existence in the water, feeding on Young
musquitoS and the larvae of other nOxious
aquatic insects. 1t possesses a curious by
draulic 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 Larvae. This curious apparatus serves
for respiration as well as locomotion. From
the Larvae it passes into the pupa state, and
still more resembles the perfect insect. 1t is
very active, 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 not only acts well its part in MAIN
tanning the balance of life, but cleanses the
swamps OF miasmata, thus purifying the air we
breathe. The natural term of life of the drag
on fly is about one year; most of its existence
is passed In the water in the condition of larvae
or pupa, and it inhabits the air only three or
four weeks. When about to complete its
nnal transformation, the pupa climb up some
suitable place near the surface of the water
attaches itself firmly to some object, and in a
short time the skin opens along the back and
from the rent there soon appears the perfect
dragon fly, who, after drying its moist wings,
trusts his untried pinions with the fullest con-
fidence to the new element in which he lives
but few short summer days.
in the 1.-TWO Voices"
To-day 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
A 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 fields
and through gardens, decimating swarms of
musquitos flies, gnats and other baneful in
scots. Their rapid flight and enormous range
OF vision enable them to capture these insects
with ease. They destroy multitude of moths
and miliers whose larvae are injurious to vege-
tatlon while they do not in lure any product
OF the agriculturist themselves. A few of
them shut into house would soon rid it of
flies, bugs and musquitos. They are perfectly
harmless. and can be handled with irnpunity,
they are an interesting subject for study, as
there still remains much to be learned of their
natural history. The dragon fly is widely dis
tributed over all parts of the globe, but few,
however, exceed in size or beauty those of our
own country.