320 



l^nc-mies of hees — Robber Flies. 



The genus is 3MlopJiora. The venation of the wings much 

 resembles that of the genus Promachus, though the form of 

 these insects is very different. 



In Mdllophora and Promacus the venation is as represented 

 in Fig. 177, where, as will be seen, the second vein (Fig. 

 177, h) forks, while in the genus Asilus (Fig. 172) the third 

 vein is forked, though in all three genera the third joint of 

 the antennte (Fig. 17.5) ends in a prolonged bristle. 



One of the most common of these pests, which I am informed 

 by Dr. Ilagen is Mallophora orcina, Weid, (Fig. 178) is 

 one inch long, and expands one and three-fourths inches (Fig. 

 179). The head (Fig. 175) is broad, the eyes black and prom- 

 inent, the antennte three-jointed, the last joint terminating in 

 a bristle, wliile the licak is very large, strong, and, like the 

 eyes and antenn:e, 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. Beneath, the in- 

 sect is clear l^lack, though there are scattering hairs of a gray- 

 ish yellow color on the black legs. The pulvilli, or feet pads 

 (Fig. 176, h), arc two in number, bright yellow in color, sur- 

 mountjd by strong, black claws (Fig. 176, a), while below and 

 between is the sharp spine (Fig. 176, c), technically known as 

 the empodium. 



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

 Their flight is like che wind, and jjcrched near the hive, ihey 

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

 load of nectar, and grasping it witu their hard strong legs. 



