836 



AN INTRODUCTION TO ENTOMOLOGY 



The larvae of this family are found in various situations; some 

 as those of Atherix live in water, but a larger number live in earth, 



in decaying wood, or in sand. 

 The larvas of Vermileo resemble 

 ant-lions in habits, digging pit- 

 falls in sand for trapping their 

 prey. Only one species, Vermileo 

 comstocki, has been found in 

 America; this lives in the moun- 

 tains of California ; other species 

 are well-known in Europe. I pro- 

 pose the common name ant-tigers 

 for the larvae of this genus. 



Family NEMESTRINID^ 

 The Tangle-veined Flies 



Fig. 1076. — Antherix ibis: A. The fly, 

 natural size; B, mass of dead flies 

 overhanging water, much reduced. 

 (From Sharp.) 



The members of this family 

 are of meditmi size ; some of them 

 resemble horse-flies, and others 

 bee-flies. They can be recognized 

 by the peculiar venation of the 

 wings, there being an unusual amount of anastomosing of the veins 

 (Fig. 1077), which gives the wings a very characteristic appearance. 



The antennas are small and short; the third segment is simple 

 and furnished with a slender, jointed, terminal style. The proboscis 

 is usually long, sometimes very long and fitted for sucking nectar 



Fig. 1077. — Wing of Parasymmidus clausa. 



from flowers. The head and thorax are not armed with strong bristles, 

 and the empodia are pulvilliform. 



But little is known regarding the habits of the larvae; one species 

 has been found to be an internal parasite of coleopterous larvae. 

 Only six species have been found in America north of Mexico. 



