The height of the season for Macromia species appears to lie between the spring and autumn dragonfly season, when available. It is likely that some destruction by birds will occur during the dragonfly's live state. 373 and the yolk is very shortly produced posteriorly across the transverse carina into a small projection on one side of the midline or as a small median square continuation; a short yellow subbasal ring in 8, narrowly or broadly interrupted dorsally, reaching the lower margin of the segment on both sides and bordered posteriorly.
Examination of the wings of 7 females shows the following: Triangle of forewing, free 2, crossed 12; subtriangle of the forewing and. The spot at 8 is, in proportion to the area of the segment, really more extensive than at 7. 375 The abdominal appendages resemble those of txniolata, but seen from the side the tips of the superiors are less curved and directed upwards, the apical portion between the middle external tooth and the apex less inflated, and approaching the shape of illinoiensis; medianlateralexternal tooth present in all cases.
The length of the first tibia in the female is about 9, compared to 7 in illinoiensis. There is considerable variation in coloration of the labrum, particularly in the extent of marginal and central black or dark brown, but this appears independent of locality). Abdominal spots in 3-6 never meet in the median line, increasing afterwards, present in only 2 cases in 6 and often absent in 4-6; present in 7 as a large basal dorsal spot, reaching behind the transverse carina on both sides, produced shortly posteriorly on the mid-dorsal line, marking around the segment, but confined below to the buff-colored sides black; segment 8 with small, narrow, triangular basal spot on both sides, bases of triangles narrowly separated by black median line, variable in size and often reduced to trace; 8 and 9 (rarely 7) on abdomen each with a basal yellow spot on either side.
The abdominal spots of 3-6 are conspicuous, those of 6 in the Maryland specimen being about 1 mm. In australensis 7 may or may not be yellow on the ventral basal margin of the segment; in any case the yellow is less distinct than on 8 and 9. In the female the stigma is tawnyTi, the costa is obscure tawny (in the male the costa has the basal median area yellow, but this yellow disappears with the narrowing of the costa as beyond this point.
Abdominal spots large, but in 3-6 separated dorsally by a narrow black line; the spots occupy the area in front of the transverse carina in each segment but 7 and 8, where they continue posteriorly. wide; in 4-6 points are quadrangular and are separated from the base of each segment by about 0.5 mm; at 7 and 8 points reach the base of each segment; spotson7 and8 have a posterior triangular projection on either side of the midline; the spots on 3 and 7 are separated from the lower spots on each segment or are closely connected in the front of the transverse carina; place in 8 circles. 385 segment; 9 usually shows the trace of the basal point on one side of the segment; 9 usually shows trace of basal spot on one side of middorsal; sub8 is always mottled at the bases on one side, 9 usually, and 7 darkly, if at all. Vulvar lamina not exceeding eighth segment, developed only as a short, crust-like fold at apex of sternum. In flight, create the impression of a mostly yellow insect. M. illinoiensis gives the impression of a black, mostly yellow injection at the tip of the abdomen.
Fights between males are not uncommon, although I am not sure that males of the same species fight. The abdominal appendages are distinctly different from those of other species; seen from above, the superiors are straight and much broader beyond the median outer tooth than in any other species; in facifica, for example, they fall continuously from the tooth to the apex, while in annulus they widen from the tooth to the front of the apex, which is rounded; seen in the same profile, and instead of the upper and lower edges converging slightly, there is a marked inferior subapical dilatation; has an indistinct, pale, dorsal basal area; the inferior appendage is slightly but distinctly shorter than the superior ones. Vulvar lamina apparently much as in Pacifica, not distinct, but appears to have a slight posterior projection on either side of the trough.
Yellow ring on abdominal segment 2 w4de, interrupted in the mid-dorsal line (in one specimen continuing closely over the mid-dorsal line at the extreme apex of the ring), interrupted laterally at the level of the auricles and with little or no pale color ventral to the level of the auricles.
VENATIONAL CHARACTERS OF NORTH AMERICAN SPECIES OF MACROMIA (MALES)
In its venational and accessory sexual characters, and the absence of a tibial keel on those in the middle of the male, this species is the most sharply defined of all North American macromys.
EXPLANATION OF PLATES
Dorsal spots present on 3-8, each spot divided longitudinally in the midline to form 2 spots, except on segment 7. Compared to the female of txniolata, the following differences can be noted: In segment 3, in wahashensis, the spots extend extends anteriorly from the transverse carina, more than half the distance to the base of the segment; in tseniolata hardly more than a third. Wings hyaline, with indistinct, indeterminate and scattered smoke areas; barely a trace of faint basal brown.
12; postnodals of forewing 10; hind wing 11; triangle of forewing free, of hindwing crossed on one side, free on the other; sub-triangle of forewing crossed. Vulver lamina a short median thickening of the back of the sternum, slightly folded into a trough; on either side of the midline at the back of the sternum is a small, rounded, triangular projection of about 0.25 mm.
