OR, MANUAL OF THE APIARY. 493 



This fly is one and five-sixteenths inches long, and 

 expands two and a half inches. The head and thorax are much 

 as in the other species. The wings are very long and strong, 

 and, as in other species, are of a smoky brown color. The 

 abdomen is short, pointed, concave from side to side on the 

 under surface, while the grayish yellow hairs are abundant on 

 the legs and whole under portion of the body. The color is a 

 lighter yellow than in the other species. These insects are 

 powerfully built, and if they become numerous must prove a 

 formidable enemy to the bees. I believe all of the robber-flies 

 are our friends. They destroy few bees, comparatively, and 

 hosts of our insect enemies. 



Another insect very common and destructive in Georgia, 

 though it closely resembles the two just described, is of a 

 different genus. It is the L,aphria thoracica, of Fabricius. In 

 this genus the third vein is forked, and the third joint of the 

 antenna is without the bristle, though it is elongated and 

 tapering. The insect is black, with yellow hair covering the 

 upper surface of the thorax. The abdomen is wholly black, 

 both above and below, though the legs have yellow hairs on 

 the femurs and tibiae. This insect belongs to the same family 

 as the others, and has the same habits. It is found North as 

 well as South. 



THB STINGING BUG— PHYMATA BROSA, FABR. 



This insect is very widely distributed throughout the 

 United States. I have received it from Maryland to Missouri 

 on the South, and from Michigan to Minnesota on the North. 

 The insect will lie concealed among the flowers, and upon 

 occasion will grasp a bee, hold it off at arm's length, and suck 

 out its blood and life. 



This is a Hemipteron, or true bug, and belongs to the 

 family Phymatidae, Uhler. It is the Phymata erosa, Fabr., 

 the specific name erosa referring to its jagged appearance. It 

 is also called the " stinging bug," in reference to its habit of 

 repelling intrusion by a painful thrust with its sharp, strong 

 beak. 



The "stinging bug " is somewhat jagged in appearance, 

 about three-eighths of an inch long, and generally of a yellow 



