492 THE bee-kekper's guide; 



and antennae, coal-black. This is mostly concealed by the 

 light yellow hairs, which are crowded thick about the mouth 

 and between the eyes. 



The thorax is prominent and thickly set with light yellow 

 hairs. The abdomen is narrow, tapering, and covered with 

 yellow hairs, except the tip, which is black, though there are 

 scattering hairs of a grayish yellow color on the black legs. 

 The pulvilli, or feet-pads (Fig. 273, b), are two in number, 

 bright yellow in color, surmounted by strong, black claws 

 (Fig. 273, a), while below and between is the sharp spine (Fig. 

 273, c), technically known as the empodium. 



The habits of the flies are interesting, if not to our liking. 

 Their flight is like the wind, and, perched near the hive, they 



Fig. 275. 



M. oricina. — Original. 



rush upon the unwary bee returning to the hive with its full 

 load of nectar, and grasping it with their hard, strong legs, 

 they bear it to some perch near by, when they pierce the crust, 

 suck out the blood, and drop the carcass, and are then ready 

 to repeat the operation. A hole in the bee shows the cause of 

 its sudden taking off. The eviscerated bee is not always killed 

 at once by this rude onslaught, but often can crawl some dis- 

 tance away from where it falls, before it expires. 



Another insect nearly as common is Mallophora bomboides, 

 Weid. This fly might be called a larger edition of the one 

 just described, as in form, habits, and appearance it closely 

 resembles the other. It belongs to the same genus, possessing 

 all the generic characters already pointed out. It is very diffi- 

 cult to capture this one, as it is so quick and active. 



