472 



NORTH AMERICAN DIPTERA 



Family Braulidse — The Honey-bee Parasite 



Braula ccEca. 



This family is comprised of a single species of BrauJa, parasitic 

 upon honey bees. 



Seiitellum absent, the mesonotum not differentiated from the abdo- 

 minal segments, the abdomen sessile; eyes minute; ocelli absent; antenna 

 set in lateral grooves; vertex without bristles. Fifth tarsal segment 

 broad and bearing an inflexed comb of many miscroscopic teeth. Wings 

 entirely absent. 



The Braulidffi are not larviparous, but lay eggs. 



Braula coeca Nitzsch is a small convex insect found only in the hives 

 of honey bees. It is said to be cosmopolitan in distribution but is rare 

 in this country, at least in collections. 



