The two species are colored much alike but furcifer is darker. The tenth abdominal segment may be said to be yellow in both but in furcifer the sides of the segment are dark, oftentimes black.
They agree in habits, both preferring to fly over stagnant water where the males come to rest on floating objects or on the ground at the water’s edge. I have observed the female of furcifer ovipositing in stagnant water among lily pads and other aquatic plants. Her flight is slow while thus engaged, and her actions more like a Libellula than the usual Gomphus.
EXPLANATION OF [PLATE].
Gomphus villosipes—1, dorsal view of male appendages; 3, vulvar scale; 5, hamule; 7, occiput of female; 8, occiput of male.
Gomphus furcifer—2, dorsal view of male appendages; 4, hamule; 6, vulvar scale; 9, occiput of male; 10, occiput of female.
Gomphus viridifrons—11, 12, 13, dorsal view of male appendages—13 from Pa., 11, 12 from Ohio; 14, 15, 16, hamules; 17, 18, vulvar scales—18 from Pennsylvania, 17 from Ohio.
Gomphus brevis—19, 20, 21, dorsal view of male appendages—specimens from Maine and Pennsylvania; 22, 23, 24, hamules; 25, 26, vulvar scales.
Gomphus abbreviatus—27, 28, 29, hamules; 30, 31, vulvar scales; 32, 33, 34, dorsal view of male appendages—specimens all from Maine.
Plate 5.
