Horse and Deer Flies (Tabanidae) ½″ to 1″ in length Head is hemispherical in shape Large eyes, occupy entire head The mouth of these flies is designed to puncture the skin and draw blood. They frequently are pests, with a special fondness for bathers. [Illustration: Robber Flies] Robber Flies (Asilidae) Large flies Hind body narrower than forebody Head hollowed out between eyes Robber Flies do not bother human beings but they attack other insects, often larger than themselves, in mid-air. [Illustration: Syrphid Flies] Syrphid Flies (Syrphidae) Large black-and-yellow-striped bodies Superficially resemble bees The Syrphids are constantly found among flowers and so are called “Flower Flies.” They are nearly as important as bees in pollination. All are harmless to us. [Illustration: Mosquitoes] Mosquitoes (Culicidae) Small, long-legged insects Threadlike antennae covered with whorls of hair Only female Mosquitoes bite. They must have one meal of blood before they can lay eggs. We have eighteen species of Mosquitoes in our area. _The Ants, Wasps, and Bees_ [Illustration: Ants] Ants (Formicidae) Small, usually wingless, insects Extremely thin waist Ants are social insects, and our species is found in large or small colonies everywhere. Ants are also the most common insect. Two readily recognized types are: Carpenter Ant (_Camponotus herculeanus pennsylvanicus_): A large black ant that is found burrowing in damp wood. The labyrinth-like tunnels in rotten wood will aid you in finding a colony. Mound Ant (_Formica exsectoides_): Produce the well-known “ant hills,” which may be six inches to a foot in diameter. [Illustration: Hornets and Potter Wasps] Hornets and Potter Wasps (Vespidae) Black or black and yellow, not furry, “Wasp-waisted” Bald-faced Hornet (_Vespula maculata_): This is a black wasp with white markings. The distinctive nest is made of paper manufactured from wood pulp gathered by the insect from dead trees or old fence posts. At the end of the season, it may be as much as a foot or two in diameter. The only safe time to collect these nests is during the winter months! Potter Wasp (_Eumenes fraternus_): The Potter Wasp constructs a “clay pot” on branches of trees, particularly Red Cedar, which it fills with paralyzed caterpillars as food for its young. [Illustration: Bumble and Honey Bees] Bumble and Honey Bees (Apidae) Extremely hairy, woolly appearance Hind legs flattened for pollen collection Bumblebees (Bombus, species): Bumblebees are common visitors to flowers. Their heavy body seems much too bulky for flight. The bee makes its nest in old mouse nests on the ground and a careful search for such nests will generally result in discovery of a Bumblebee’s home.