762 INSECTS ABROAD. 



The species wliich is given in the illnstration is chocolate- 

 brown on the thorax, and blackisli brown on the abdomen. 

 There is a very narrow collar of yellow between the head and 

 the thorax. The wings are singularly handsome, being the 

 richest brown by way of ground colour, and having several 

 large translucent spots of yellow. It is a native of Southern 

 Africa. 



This is a very large genus, spread about over the whole world, 

 and extending even to England, where we have several species. 



The forxii of Bonibylius analis must be familiar to every 

 English entomologist, on account of the Humble-bee Flies, as 



they are popularly called, 



which are so well known in 



^^*^/^^ this country. These insects 



yr ' " /-^ are spread all over the 



^ . ^ world, wherever flowers can 



grow, and they feed, like 

 many of the Hawk Moths, 

 by poising themselves on 

 the wing before a flower, 

 and extracting its juices 

 with the long and straight 

 proboscis. 



The present species is a 

 native of Southern Africa. 



Fig. 50(3. — Bonibylius aualis. mi , i i i i 



(RiHck and yellow or white.) The thorax aud abdomen 



are covered with long black 

 hair, with the exception of a large patch at the end of the 

 abdomen, which is white in some specimens and golden yellow 

 in others. The wings are nearly translucent, but they are dark 

 brown at the base, and a wavy patch of very pale brown runs 

 parallel with the upper edge. 



In the family of the Conopsidye, the larvae are parasitic upon 

 other insects, mostly belonging to the bee tribe. One species, 

 Conops russipes, was found by Latreille to undergo its trans- 

 formations within the abdomen of the living humble-bee, and 

 the insect has been seen patiently flying in chase of the bee. 

 The word Conops is Greek, and was used to signify a large kind 



