. Manual of the apiary. Bees. 270 JIANtlAL OF THE APIARY. Insects of the same genus are called dragon flies, devil's darning-needles, &c. These are exceedingly predacious. In fact, the whole sub-order is insectivorous. From its four netted, veined wings, we can tell it at once from the asilus before mentioned, which has but two wings. The Bee or Mosquito-hawk is resplendent with metallic green, while the Bee filler is of sober gray. The Mosquito Hawk is not inaptly named, as it not only preys on other insects, swoop- ing down upon them with the dexterity of a hawk, but its graceful gyratio
. Manual of the apiary. Bees. 270 JIANtlAL OF THE APIARY. Insects of the same genus are called dragon flies, devil's darning-needles, &c. These are exceedingly predacious. In fact, the whole sub-order is insectivorous. From its four netted, veined wings, we can tell it at once from the asilus before mentioned, which has but two wings. The Bee or Mosquito-hawk is resplendent with metallic green, while the Bee filler is of sober gray. The Mosquito Hawk is not inaptly named, as it not only preys on other insects, swoop- ing down upon them with the dexterity of a hawk, but its graceful gyrations, as it sports in the warm sunshine at noon- day, are not unlike those of our graceful hawks and falcons. These insects are found most abundant near water, as they lay their eggs in water, where the larvae live and feed upon other animals. The larvse are peculiar in breathing by gills in their rectum. The same water that bathes these organs and furnishes oxygen, is sent out in a jet, and thus sends the insect darting along. The larvae also possess enormous jaws, which formidable weapons are masked till it is desired to use them, when the dipper-shaped mask is dropped or unhinged and the terrible jaws open and close upon the unsuspecting victim, which has but a brief time to bewail its temerity. A writer from Georgia, in Gleanings, volume 6, page 35, states that these destroyers are easily scared away, or brought down by boys with whips, who soon become as expert in capturing the insects, as are the latter in seizing the bees. The insects are very wild and wary, and I should suppose this method would be very efficient. TACHINA PLY. From descriptions which I have received, I feel certain Fm. that tliere is a two-winged fly, probably of the genus Tachina. Please note that these images are extracted from scanned page images that may have been digitally enhanced for readability - coloration and appearance of these illustrations may not perfectly resemble the original
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Keywords: ., bo, bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, booksubjectbees, bookyear1880
