decides the genus, those of Laphria being 

 simple at their termination, whilst those of Asi- 

 l,us are furnished with a very distinct, and gene- 

 rally elongated, setaceous style. 



These insects fly swiftly, and the force with 

 which the wings strike upon the air, produces a 

 loud humming sound. They are predaceous, 

 and pursue with voracity smaller and weaker in- 

 sects, which they seize, and then alight to suck 

 out their fluids. Many species inhabit the Unit- 

 ed States. Of these, the thoracius of Fabricius, 

 and another which I described under the name 

 of tergissa, in consequence of the form of body 

 and sounding flight, have been very frequently 

 mistaken for humble-bees, (Bombus.) 



The larvae live, probably, in the earth. 



LAPHRIA FULVICAUDA. 



SPECIFIC CHARACTER. 



Black, with cinereous hair ; wings blackish ; 

 tergum fulvous at tip. 



PLATE VI. 



