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Family Agrionidae

These are the true damsel flies, and are the small, graceful species with extremely slender bodies and narrow, clear wings, which are very commonly found flying over large bodies of still water, and with which every one who has ever rowed a boat on a fresh water lake must be perfectly familiar. They are found in great numbers in the reedy borders of the fresh water ponds and lakes over the entire country. All of our North American species are small, but in tropical regions they grow to large size, and some South American forms are among the largest species of the order Odonata. They do not fly high in the air, but frequent low-growing aquatic vegetation. The colors as a rule are rather dull, but the slender bodies of some are brilliantly blue, green or even yellow, and sometimes red.

The family is a large one, and about seventy-five species are known in this country. Lestes and Enallagma are the largest genera.