230 ELEMENTARY ENTOMOLOGY 



there is marshland the well-known green heads annoy bathers as 

 well as animals. Our largest horse-fly is an inch long, with a 

 two-inch wing expanse, and of a dull black color, while other 

 common, smaller species are brown, with the wings banded with 

 black. Only the females are bloodsuckers, the males feeding on 

 the pollen of flowers. 



The soldier-flies (Stratiomyidae) somewhat resemble the smaller 

 horse-flies, and are so named on account of the bright yellow or green 

 stripes across the abdomen. The antennae are somewhat longer 



FIG. 363. Stratiomyia discalis. (Greatly enlarged) 

 (After Lugger) 



and the wing venation is quite characteristic. The adults are found 

 on flowers near water, and the larvae are carnivorous or feed on 

 decaying vegetable matter, living in water, earth, or decaying wood. 



In the second group are found two families having four or five 

 distinct antennal segments, the robber-flies (Asilidae) and the 

 nearly related Midas-flies (Midaidae)^ which .have very similar 

 habits-. 



The robber-flies (Asilidae). They are well named, being large, 

 hairy, ferocious-looking flies, which are strong, swift flyers. They 

 may often be seen resting quietly on a dead twig, which they closely 

 resemble in color ; suddenly they will dart off and in mid-air will 

 snatch a fly or any insect which they can overpower, in much the 



