OR, MANUAL OF THB APIARY. 489 



and takes captive the bee and then feeds upon Its fluids. It is 

 more common in the southern part of our country. The fly 

 (Fig. 269) has a long, pointed abdomen, strong wings, and is 

 very powerful. I have seen au allied species attack and over- 

 come the powerful tiger-beetle, whereupon I took them both 

 with my net, and now they are pinned, as they were captured, 

 in the college cabinet. These flies delight in the warm sun- 

 shine, are very quick on the wing, and so are not easily cap- 

 tured. It is to be hoped that they will not become very numer- 



FiG. 269. 



Rohber-Fly. — Original. 



ous. If they should, I hardly know how they could be kept 

 from their evil work. Frightening them or catching with a 

 net might be tried, yet these methods would irritate the bees, 

 and need to be tried before they are recommended. I have 

 received specimens of this fly from nearly every Southern 

 State. During the summer-time these flies are usually well 

 employed in Michigan. They have been observed to kill the 

 cabbage butterfly by scores. The Asilids are very common in 

 California, yet I am persuaded that they do far more good than 

 harm. 



I have also a fly of the same family, with the same bee- 



