Fig. 395.—Libellula depressa, the Common Dragon-Fly.
The Libellulas are common all over the world. Their type is the Libellula depressa ([Fig. 395]), very common in Europe. The male is brown, with the abdomen blue underneath; the female, of a sort of olive-yellow, bordered by yellow on the sides. Both have the abdomen broad and flattened.
The Æshna, with a cylindrical abdomen, attains to the length of two and a half inches. Its flight is more rapid than that of the swallow. The Calepteryx flies more slowly. The male is of a metallic blue, its diaphanous wings are traversed by a band of greenish blue; the female, of a bronzed green, has wings of a metallic green, with a yellowish mark on the edge. These insects rest on reeds, retaining their wings in a vertical position.
| Fig. 396.—Male Raphidia. | Fig. 397.—Larva of a Raphidia. | Fig. 398.—Pupa of a Raphidia. |
The Agrions, which are of the same family, have the body white, brown, or green, and the eyes very prominent. They are more slim and graceful than the Libellulas, properly so called; their larva are very elongated.
Fig. 399.—Mantispa pagana.