New-York tribune., 1901-07-07
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THE DEVILS D4RNlNG NEEDLE.

THE DEVILS D4RNlNG NEEDLE.
Quick run away. or he'll up your ear" the
children cry in the country when they see big
.darning needle fit by. The dragonhy or devils
darning needle as it is sometimes called Is known
bv its long slender tail great gauzy wings and
the yellow and blush black of its body 1t is a
harmless little fellow but for some unknown reason
II has won bad reputation long ago, ana even
grown men and women slow TO overcome the
strange prejudice which they learned 10 1eei "heh
they were boys and girls.
But among other insects the dragonhy Is little
tyrant for it feeds upon the smaller water insects
and Larvae with a voraciOus appetite. IL Is best 20
watch this beautiful little creature in the early
summer when it is full of vigorous life and glory
ing in the possession of it's newly gotten wings.
Its favorte haunt is some quiet pool, where the
waters of the noisy brook seem TO pause and rest
for time after their troubled journey Here, when
the warm weather begins, wonderful little show
takes place every year Dozens of tiny nymphs. as
the dragonfies are called in their earlier state
crawl slowly up the long stems OF the water weeds
or sometimes many feet up the tree trunks about
the margin of the pool. and fix themselves motion
less and silent for time waiting for their great
change to come. For nearly year they have been
preparing for this in their home deep under the
water. The mother dragonfiy lays her eggs in the
water. and from the time when the baby insect
leaves the egg at the bottom of the pool and be
comes a nymph. il goes eating and growing ard
moulting many times till its final shell appears
once out in the warm sunshine this outer shell
begins to crack down the middle Of the back. and
Master Dragonfiy must work his way out 1t is
queer sight II boy girl can chance upon him
during this process. He sometimes has much
trouble in getting his tail wholly free, and looks
If he We're two insects. the almost empty shell
with its head. legs and body cnging stiffy to the
swaying stalk. while the living insect is doubled
up on top Of the shell struggling 10 get away. at
last he craws up the top Of the stalk and rests
for several hours till his body grows stronger and
his wings expand. Even after his first flight into
the air TO try his wings. he is weak. and without
the beautiful irdescence for which he is much
admired later.
climbed like the dragonhy from a watery birth
place. forms probably the first OF the
dragonfiy's dinner. The dragonfly has an odd
habit of choosing some particular twig for a rest
ingpIace. where he watch for his prey among
the dancing insects below. and and then he
darts down suddenly to seize a victim, but does
not till he has lighted again his favorite
twig. when he can enjoy his feast at leisure. But
world among men. and II this does take
Cs he will himself furnish dinner for some
larger creature. The kinEbrd some other fly
catcher is too often perched q low branch Just
above the bravest dragonfyS twig, and just when
the insect Is ready 10 deVour the last delicious bit
OF a poor little fly, which a moment ago was dart
ing among the reeds the kingbird pOunCes upon
his prey and the dragonhy's short life is ended
Dragonhies found all the world for
there said to be about seventeen hundred spe-
Cies. In tropical lands their COOring is brill
liant and some are more than six inches long. In