270 MANUAL OF THE APIARY. 



Insects of the same genus are called dragon flies, devil's 

 darning-needles, &o. These are exceedingly predacious. In 

 fact, the whole sub-order is insecti'Vorous. From its four 

 netted, veined wings, we can tell it at once from the asilus 

 before mentioned^ which has but two wings. The Bee or 

 Mosquito-hawk is resplendent with metallic green, while the 

 Bee TCiller is of sober gray. The Mosquito Hawk is not 

 inaptly named, as it not only preys on other insects, swoop- 

 ing down upon them with the dexterity of a hawk, but its 

 graceful gyrations, as it sports in the warm sunshine at noon- 

 day, are not unlike those of our graceful hawks and falcons. 

 These insects are found most abundant near water, as they 

 lay their eggs in water, where the larviB live and feed upon 

 other animals. The larvae are peculiar in breathing by gills 

 in their rectum. The same water that bathes these organs 

 and furnishes oxygen, is sent out in a jet, and thus sends the 

 insect darting along. The larvae also possess enormous jaws, 

 which formidable weapons are masked till it is desired to use 

 them, when the dipper-shaped mask is dropped or unhinged 

 and the terrible jaws open and close upon the unsuspecting 

 victim, which lias but a brief time to bewail its temerity. 



A writer from Georgia, in Gleanings, volume 6, page 35, 

 states that these destroyers are easily scared away, or brought 

 down by boys with whips, who soon become as expert in 

 capturing the insects, as are the latter in seizing the bees. The 

 insects ai-every wild and wary, and I should suppose this 

 method would be very efficient. 



TACHINA PLY. 



From descriptions which I have received, I feel certain 

 Fig. 110. 



that there is a two-winged fly, probably of the genus Tachina 



