652 



THE STUDY OF INSECTS. 



Family LARRID^E (Lar'ri-dae). 

 The Larrids (Lar'rids). 



This family is composed of insects of moderate size and 



H^ rather slender form. The abdomen is ovoid- 



JlS^lfr^ conical in outline (Fig. 774); there is a single 



^x ^5f^ spine at the apex of the middle tibiae ; the fore 



1 ' wings have an appendiculate cell (Fig. 775, ap) ; 



raterminata. and the mandibles are usually notched on the 

 exterior margin. 



These insects burrow in sandy places, and provision their 



Fig. 775. — Wings of Larra. 



nests chiefly with orthopterous insects. Some species fre- 

 quent milk-weed (Asclepias) blossoms, but are very difficult 

 to capture. 



More than fifty species have been found in the United 

 States and Canada; most of them occur in the Southwest. 



Family BEMBECID^: (Bem-bec'i-dae). 

 The Bembecids {Bem'be-cids? 



The members of this family are most easily distinguished 

 from the closely-related forms by the shape of the upper lip, 

 which distinctly projects. In some genera it not only pro- 

 jects, but is prolonged so as to appear like a beak. 



Great variations in size occur within the family, The 

 majority of our species are of moderate size ; but some of 



