652 THE STUDY OF INSECTS. 



Family LARRID^E (Lar'ri-dae). 

 The Larrids (Lar'rids). 



This family is composed of insects of moderate size and 

 rather slender form. The abdomen is ovoid- 

 conical in outline (Fig. 774); there is a single 

 spine at the apex of the middle tibiae ; the fore 

 wings have an appendiculate cell (Fig. 775, ap) ; 

 an d the mandibles are usually notched on the 

 exterior margin. 



These insects burrow in sandy places, and provision their 



FIG. 775. Wings of Larra. 



nests chiefly with orthopterous insects. Some species fre- 

 quent milk-weed (Asclepias) blossoms, but are very difficult 

 to capture. 



More than fifty species have been found in the United 

 States and Canada ; most of them occur in the Southwest. 



Family BEMBECID^E (Bem-bec'i-dae). 

 The Bembecids (Bem'be-cids.} 



The members of this family are most easily distinguished 

 from the closely-related forms by the shape of the upper lip, 

 which distinctly projects. In some genera it not only pro- 

 jects, but is prolonged so as to appear like a beak. 



Great variations in size occur within the family, The 

 majority of our species are of moderate size ; but some of 



