432 



The Bee Stahber, 



equally indifferent to the virtues of our friendly insects like 

 the parasitic and predaceous species. 



We note, then, that this bug is not wholly evil, and as 

 its destruction would be well-nigh impossilile, for it is as 

 widely scattered as are the flowers in which it lurks, we 

 may well rest its case, at least until its destructiveness 

 becomes more serious than at present. 



THE BEE STABBER. 



In the Southein states there is another bug, Euthyrhyn- 

 chus Floridanus, Linn. (Fig. 212), which I have named the 

 bee stabber. This bug places itself at the entrance of the 

 hive and stabs and sucks the bees till they are bloodless. 



Fig. 212. 



Bee S /abler. 



As will he seen its powei-ful four-jointed beak -fits it well 

 for this purpose. This bug is purplish or greenish blue, 

 with dull yellowish markings as seen in the figure. It is 

 also yellowish beneath. It is one-half of an inch long. 



BEE HAWK — I.IBELLULA. 



These large, fine, lace-wings ( Fig. 213) are Neuropterous 

 insects. They work harm to the bees mostly in the South- 

 ern states and are called mosquito hawks. Insects of this 

 genus are called dragon flies, devil's darning needles, etc. 

 They are exceedingly predaceous. In fact, the whole sub- 

 order is insectivorous. From its four netted veined wings, 

 we can tell it at once from the asilus flies before mentioned, 



