320 



Enemies of Bees — Itobher Flies. 



The genus is Mallophora. The venation of the wings much 

 resembles that of the genus Promachus, though the form of 

 these insects is very different. 



In Mallophora and Promaeus the venation is as represented 

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

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

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

 the antennae (Fig. 175) ends in a prolonged bristle. 



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

 by Dr. Hagen is MaMophora 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 antennse three-jointed, the last joint terminating in 

 a bristle-, while the beak is very large, strong, and, like the 

 eyes and antennae, 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 



Fig. 178. 



Fig. 179. 



yellow hairs except the tip, which is black. Beneath, the in- 

 sect is clear black, though there are scattering hairs of a gray- 

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

 (Fig. 176, 6), are two in number, bright yellow in color, sur- 

 mounted 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 flies are interesting, if not to our liking. 

 Their flight is like the wind, and perched near the hive, they 

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

 load of nectar, and grasping it with their hard strong legs,- 



