|
|
Large Australian Mystery Fly: Robber Fly
(01/06/2008) Fly found in Australia
Hi Bugman,
a friend of mine saw this fly and thinking of my entomology
studies and insect collection he tried to catch it for me...
he wasn't sure what it was, and thinking that it may
sting him, he hit it with a cloth and killed it (sigh). As
you can see from the photo the thorax is very damaged but
the rest of the body remains intact. I am stumped with it's
identification however as I believe it's in the suborder
Brachycera, Family Pantophthalmide. I have attached
a photo and link of a Pantophthalmus sp. that I
believe to be similar to this specimen. As far as I have found
this family is located only in mid-to-south America (Peru,
Brazil, Mexico, Panama, Costa Rico...) and am unable to research
further as I can’t speak/read the language. Am I right in
identification or way of the mark??? I am located in the mid-coast
of the state New South Wales, Australia. It is generally a
temperate climate where this specimen was found -
not the neotropcial climate that the Pantophthalmide are said
to reside. Any help would be greatly appreciated,
Pantophthalmus photo: http://www.diptera.info/photogallery.php?album_id=103
Cheers,
Elysha
Hi Elysha,
We need to bring in some big guns for this one. We are starting
by correcting the spelling on the family in question and adding
the missing "a" to Pantophthalmidae.
We found a UC
Riverside "Bug Spotlight" page on the family Pantophthalmidae
that was written by Doug Yanega and we have contacted him
to try to get his expert opinion. We will also contact Eric
Eaton who frequently assists us in identifications. Meanwhile
we are posting you image and waiting for our readership (yes
that is you Grev) to comment.
Update: (01/06/2007) Large Australian Mystery
Fly
Hi Daniel,
Have a look at this site (especially the last photo) http://thebegavalley.org.au/1622.html
What do you reckon?
Grev
Hi Grev,
It looks like you have nailed the identification to a large
Robber Fly, Blepharotes coriarius. The website you located
included the following information: "This is the only specimen
I've seen. I've borrowed "Australian Insects" by Keith McKeown,
from the library. Fortunately it has a good (black and white)
water colour rendition of the fly and describes it thus: 'The
finest of all the Australian Asilidae. A very large black
fly with the upper surface of its broad abdomen bright orange
and tufted along the sides with patches of black and white
hairs. The face is densely bearded. The wings are a rich smoky
brown. It is rather a common insect in inland districts, especially
in the Riverina, where it rests on fence posts and tree trunks
in the hot sunshine. It flies away with a loud buzz when disturbed,
often bearing away its impaled prey.' "
Thanks so much for your help Daniel and Grev,
The photo with the "wings folded flat in line with the abdomen" makes it
look exactly like a robber fly... I wonder if my specimen wasn't so mangled
if I would have recognized this? Well done guys! Cheers,
Elysha
Mating Robber Flies
(12/09/2007) What in the World!!! Please Help!
Dear Bugman,
I found your site about two months ago after being pinched
by a beetle. Great photos, and descriptions=hours of
fun. Anyway, these guys were flying around having a
good time scarring my niece. I haven't seen any like
this before (we live in Central Illinois). I looked through
your pages on bees, wasps and dragonflies, but couldn't find
a match. Any help would be much appreciated (and also
end a family discussion on the bugs identity)! Thank you,
keep up the great work and have a great day!!!!
Kim B.
Hi Kim,
Your mating insects are Robber Flies in the family Asilidae,
possibly Giant
Robber Flies in the genus Promachus.
Mexican Robber Fly
(09/23/2007) Possible Brachonid Wasp
Hi,
I saw this Wasp-like insect this morning through my kitchen
window near Benson, Arizona. It is large (maybe 2
- 3"), orange body, dark wings, white face with short
red antenae. Two photos of this insect attached. I searched
your pic and think this is in the Brachonid Wasp family. Thank
you,
Carol Breton
Benson, Arizona
 
Hi Carol,
This is a Robber Fly, not a Brachonid Wasp. It sure looks
like on of the Hanging Thieves in the genus Diogmites, but
there are no exact species matches on BugGuide.
We will contact Eric Eaton and Martin Hauser to see if either
of them knows the species.
Update: (09/26/2007)
Hi Daniel,
I sent the pics to Eric Fisher, who knows everything about
robbers (only the flying ones). He told me it is Archilestris
magnificus (Walker), a Mexican species which has been only
a few times collected in Arizon, but nowhere else in the US...
It is not really a hanging thief, but it sure looks like one.
Great catch! Cheers
Martin Hauser
Comment: (09/26/2007)
Wow! Hey, I think a friend of mine got one across the border
in Nogales, Sonora, Mexico back in 1989. We were on vacation
together, and this big robber fly was trying to get out of
a storefront window. So my friend paid the dude for the fly!
LOL! Wish I would have tried to outbid him:-) Hope we can
get these images migrated over to Bugguide, as I'm sure it
would be a new genus and species....but I also know how busy
you are, Daniel. Maybe Eric Fisher can take a look at our
Bugguide asilids and confirm IDs?
Eric Eaton
Bee Killer eating Red Wasp
(08/16/2007) fly with an attitude!
Dear Whatsthatbugers,
Looks like a bumblebee but I know better. This robberfly is
a resident of my garden what a noble creature it
is. I can't imagine how she (he) captured this red wasp. I
live in central Texas (San Marcos) and am curious about just
which species this is. Thank you kindly.
Diane
Hi Diane,
Noble is not usually an adjective that we hear attached to
an insect, but this Bee Killer, a Robber Fly in the genus
Mallophora, is surely befitting the descriptive.
Red Footed Cannibalfly
(08/15/2007) Maybe a Golden Back Snipe Fly?
This thing was big! I've seen a couple of these buzzing
around a flowering shrub this summer. This one had gotten
trapped in our screened back porch. It buzzed around
like mad, then settled down so I photographed it at length.
Then it dropped down dead. Must have been the 108 degree
temperature. It's been mighty hot here in the Ozarks
the past week or so. And bone dry. I cropped and compressed
this photo so it wouldn't be huge. I have numerous HQ
photos of this insect if you want. I'm sure it's a "fly"
of some sort, just unsure as to what. Thanks!
Gary Parnell
Mnt. Home, AR
Hi Gary,
This is one of the Giant Robber Flies, the Red Footed Cannibalfly,
Promachus rufipes. It is also known as a Bee Panther. BugGuide
has some great photos.
Female
Red Footed Cannibalfly: Drowned in Pool
(08/15/2007) Huge Wasp found in my pool
My niece found this huge wasp in our pool today and we are
curious about what it is and if we should be worried. I have
never noticed one around the house before, but then again
I let the bees and wasp do there business so I never pay that
much attention (I leave them alone, they leave me alone).
He was dead by time we found him so after taking our pictures
we dropped him onto a spider web and came inside to see if
we could identify it on your site, no luck. I cannot get anymore
pictures or info because within a few minutes the spider had
taken him into his lair :-)
Kristy Fedyk
Hi Kristy,
We believe this is a female Red
Footed Cannibalfly, Promachus rufipes, one of the Giant
Robber Flies. If handled, they are capable of biting, but
they are much more interested in capturing other winged prey.
They are also known as Bee Panthers.
Hanging Thief is Marathon Traveler
(07/18/2007) Can you identify this bug?
Hope you can help as this bug has "attacked" two
different people - one in Georgia and one in Kentucky. Thanks.
Nebby McMahon
Hi Nebby,
Wow, that Hanging Thief, a type of Robber Fly, has really
chocked up the mileage if it traveled between Georgia and
Kentucky.
Hanging
Thief eats Polistes Paper Wasp
(07/16/2007) unknown bug killing wasp
Here is a link to a picture of an unknown bug which is apparently
killing the red wasp and maybe impaling it thru the head and
sucking the stuff out of the wasp, the wasp was still moving
but the critter with him, fly around a little ways, and would
land again, as the wasp was heavy from his point of view.
Jerry
Hi Jerry,
The predator in your photo is a Robber Fly known as a Hanging
Thief, and it is eating a Polistes Paper Wasp. Hanging Thieves
in the genus Diogmites, get their common name from the way
they hang while eating. Notice in your image the Hanging Thief
is supporting its entire weight plus the weight of the wasp
from just one leg.
Thank you sir! I had never seen this insect before (the hanging
thief). We see cicada killer wasps all the time, love them.
Used to see a lot of what we called tarantula killer wasps...but
rarely see them anymore as most of the tarantulas have disappeared
in north texas since the 1950s, when they were common as flys.
The lightening bugs, have all disappeared here in north texas
also, but have reports of them still in other parts of the
country. Thanks again,
Jerry
Southern Bee Killer
(07/15/2007) bumblebee killing honeybee? queen mating with
drone?
I can see that this is obviously a bumblebee (don't know which
species); but I'm surprised to see it firmly attached to what
appears to be a honeybee (or a drone?). I've sent two different
views. Do you have any idea what's going on here? Thanks for
any time you can spare to help me out.
Diane
Chuluota, FL (Central Fl)
 
Hi Diane,
This is not a Bumblebee. It is a Robber Fly known as a Southern
Bee Killer, Mallophora orcina. According to BugGuide it is
a: "Large, fuzzy, bee-mimicking robber flies. Resemble Laphria
, another genus of robbers that mimic bumblebees, but is even
hairier and has antennae with a very thin terminal final segment,
whereas Laphria has thick antennae. "
Bee-Like Robber Fly
(07/01/2007) Huge Orange Robber Fly
I know you're swamped, but check out these shots of some kind
of large orange robber fly! I'm doing fieldwork in burned
forest areas of interior BC and came across this critter one
morning on a burned Douglas Fir trunk. I think you can see
pupa cases in one of the photos, too... it must have recently
emerged. Sadly there's nothing to indicate scale but
I'd say the fly was 2.5-3.5 cm in length. What IS it?!
Shannon
Hi Shannon,
We believe this is one of the Bee-Like Robber Flies in the
genus Laphria.
We have eliminated the Bee Killer genus Mallophora thanks
to this explanation on BugGuide posted by Herschel Raney:
"Mallophora Have the very slim antenna tips. Laphria all have
the blunted tapered tips." Your specimen has the blunt tapered
antennae. The closest match we can find is Laphria
fernaldi, but we would love to get a more expert opinion.
Update: (07/11/2007)
Eric Eaton sent me. His email is glitching. This concerns
the Laphria photo from BC with the golden hair and the silver
legs. (Now on your robber page.) It is one of the species
that Bullington moved out of Laphria proper in his dissertation
which has never been published. So we cannot use the other
genera names. Dr. Cannings would like to email the shooter
about her shot if you can get me the email. Comments from
Dr. Rob Cannings in BC. "I'm pretty certain it's Laphria sackeni
Wilcox (apical palp hairs look golden, not black), a widespread
Cordilleran species... BC interior and coast north to Alaska...south
to California and Colorado. Likes open areas in conifer forests
(logged and burned sites) and, like other Laphria species,
develops in dead wood."
Herschel Raney
Hanging Thief
(04/09/2007) I entered this before
I sent this before but I don't know if you got it. I photographed
this bug last summer in Northern NJ. I have never seen anything
like this before and if I didn't have the one photo of it,
I don't think I could have convinced anyone else of it's existence!
It was only about an inch or so big, I had to zoom in to get
a good photo of it. I only got the one photo before it flew
away. Please help me identify this bug!
Sue Dericks
Byram, NJ
Hi Sue,
This is a Robber Fly that is known by the colorful name of
the Hanging Thief.
Robber
Fly eats Mantidfly in Australia
(04/09/2007) Promachus rufipes with a Mantidfly Lunch
Hi Bugman,
Thanks for posting my pic of the Swallowtail caterpillar.
Hope you like this one of Promachus rufipes with a Mantidfly
Lunch Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. April 2007
Trevor Jinks
Hi Again Trevor,
Your photos are very nice, and additionally, they are small
files. We are still having problems getting large images.
This image of a large Robber Fly will also be a nice addition
in our Food Chain section.
Virginia
Bee Killer
(04/08/2007) Bee Mimic and Unknown
Hey guys,
I know you are swamped but I had to share a photo I took this
month on Skidaway Island, Georgia. I came across this amazing
robber fly that appeared to mimic a bee.
Anthony
Hi Anthony,
Based on the yellow facial hair and black abdomen, we are
identifying your bee mimic Robber Fly as a Virginia Bee Killer,
Laphria virginica.
Robber Fly eats Aphid
(01/27/2007) ??
I captured this fly eating this fly. I researched your site
to see if I could come up with a name for it but found nothing.
I looked up on the web and thought maybe it was a Cheese Skipper.
Any help would be appreciated. Photo was captured in Mid-Ohio,
last summer, and it was about 1⁄2 “ long.
Thank you in advance.
Travis
Hi Travis,
We believe this is a Robber Fly, and we will check with Eric
Eaton to get his opinion. Eric provided this confirmation:
"Yes, it is definitely a robber fly. The prey looks like an
aphid, perhaps even a woolly aphid, making that a pretty small
robber fly! Eric"
Robber Fly from Australia
(01/17/2007) Australian Robber Fly
Hello,
GREAT site! I am very impressed and have only looked at a
fraction of your excellent site! Attached is a photo of a
Robber Fly from Central West NSW, Australia you may wish to
use on your site. Regards
Stephen
Hi Stephen,
We absolutely love all the wonderful submissions we get from
Australia during our northern winter.
Giant
Robber Fly eats Yellow Jacket
(11/26/2006) VERY LARGE ROBBER FLY
I'VE ALWAYS CALLED THEM PREDATOR FLY..BUT IT SEEMS IT'S A
ROBBER FLY. THIS VERY LARGE ONE WAS ON MY DECK RAIL. IT'S
LENGTH IS AT LEAST 2", THE LARGEST I'VE EVER SEEN. THAT
YELLOW JACKET IS ABOUT 5/8" LONG TO GIVE A COMPARISON.
JUST WANTED TO SHARE.
RON.
Hi Ron,
Your Giant Robber Fly is sure impressive, and justifiably
earns the name Predator Fly. We believe this is Promachus
hinei.
Robberfly
feasting on Fly
(11/18/2006) robberfly?
I just discovered your site, When I took this picture last
month I thought it was a mother doting over a dead relative.
Now I think it's a robberfly eating it's victim? This insect
wither was there for a couple of days, and didn't mind my
getting to within 2 inches with a macro lens.
Loren Lewis
Hi Loren,
The only insects that exhibit anything remotely resembling
doting are the social insects in the order Hymenoptera, the
Ants, Bees and Wasp, and Termites in the order Isoptera. Robberflies
are dispassionate about their meals.
"Wasp Mimic" Robber Fly
(09/08/2006) Can't identify on your site. Bugguide.com or
internet
Your site is one of my favorites!!! I scan it weekly. I send
several hours learning about the amazing creatures that share
this world with us. I do have a bug I have been unable to
identify. I have looked on your site, Bugguide and tried every
combination I could think of on the internet to identify these
little beauties. I live in Navasota, TX and this summer was
the first time I have ever seen these guys. Keep up the awesome
work!!! Is there anything (besides trying to research on our
own first), that we, the grateful readers of this amazing
site, can do to help...donations...resources...etc??
Robin
Hi Robin,
We believe these are Wasp Mimicing Robber Flies. They resemble
an insect in the genu Ceraturgus on BugGuide,
but the match is not exact. By the looks of things, you should
be seeing more next year. Thank you for your kind thoughts,
but at the moment, we are not set up for contributions. We
are still selling our calendars through the gift shop and
clicking on some of our ads does help pay the high cost of
web hosting. WE are going to try to get Eric Eaton to weigh
in on the identification. Eric quickly provided the exact
species: "Right family at least:-) These are indeed robber
flies, in the genus Laphria. The species is Laphria
saffrana, or something like that. That species is also
featured on bugguide.
Keep up the great work! Eric"
Cannibalism: Robber Fly devours Hanging Thief
(09/01/2006) Thanks !
I wanted to let you know how much I appreciate your website.
I have come to your site at various times this past summer
to find out what creature was lurking in my backyard. My first
visit was to find out what a Wheel Bug was and lastly I found
information on the Bearded Robber Fly and a Hanging Thief.
Thanks again for all the valuable information you provide.
I have included photos of my latest inquiry ! Regards,
Dawn Werner
Southwest Ohio
 
Hi Dawn,
What an amazing documentation of a Robber Fly in the genus
Promachus feeding on a related Hanging Thief. We found a website
with great photos that identifies your species as Promachus
vertebratus.
Hanging
Thief eats Yellow Jacket
(08/22/2006) hanging thief
Bugman
I think you had a picture of one of these in your fly section
not hanging. I wasn't sure from the picture but when you called
it a hanging thief I knew right away. Here's one hanging and
eating.
Bill
Hi Bill,
Wow!!! What an awesome photo. That Hanging Thief seems to
be enjoying the Yellow Jacket it captured. Thanks for sending
such an iconic image our way.
Robber Fly in genus Ommatius
(08/11/2006) Possible Robber Fly
Thanks for taking the time to review my message. I saw this
odd creature two mornings in a row and I was able to capture
it (photographically) the second morning. Originally I thought
it was a mosquito, however, now that I have found your site,
I know I'm wrong. The closest guess I could come up with is
that this may be an immature fly - possible a robber fly.?.
I can say that s/he did not really appreciate the flash as
I was allowed only one shot per sitting. This shot was taken
7/29/2006 @ 10:50 AM, in a rural suburb of Pittsburgh, PA.
The image was obviously taken with a macro lens, and to frame
the size, the brown object is the edge of a 4x4 post on my
deck. Unfortunately, the image is a bit dark due to the small
aperture used, and you can't see the wings. The bug was small
enough to be considered a female mosquito at first glance,
so I think it is a little small to be a robber fly. Thanks
again for your time, and the great work you do with this site.
Pete
Hi Pete,
Immature flies are maggots. Once the fly becomes an adult,
it has reached its maximum size. This is a small species of
Robber Fly in the genus Ommatius. We have lightened you photo
using "level" in Photoshop.
Robber
Fly with Prey
(08/10/2006) Hello Bug People!
My daughter and I were quite surprised when this large insect
buzzing around our deck returned with a yellow jacket for
lunch. I was able to capture the Kodak moment, and with your
website, identified the insect as a Robber Fly. What a brave
guy -- out catching bees (how DO they do that?!) and not a
bit fazed by a camera in its face... Blessings,
Cindy
Hi Cindy,
Judging by the prominent beard and the large size, we think
this is Robber Fly in the genus Promachus. Thanks for getting
up close and personal.
Hanging Thief
(08/05/2006) Bug Identification
I was wondering if you could tell me what type of but this
was. I have not been able to find it anywhere else. I have
attached a picture of it. Thanks,
Mitch
Hi Mitch,
Robber Flies in the genus Diogmites are known as Hanging Thieves.
Hanging
Thief
(07/21/2006) Mosquito?
We live in West Tennessee and found this strange bug in our
garage. In the picture, it's resting on top of a flashlight.
Thanks,
Cody
Hi Cody,
This looks like one of the Robberflies in the genus Diogmites,
the Hanging Thieves.
Robber Fly or Flower Loving Fly ??????
(07/20/2006) Flower-loving Fly
That is what it looks like in my insect book, BUT, it says
they are in the west and I live in NE Arkansas. It was resting
on a pole I am using to hold up some cone flowers. A stray,
maybe? Think global warming is doing some strange things!
It is also similar to the Flower Fly you have pictured. Is
that the same thing? Thanks so much for a fantastic site.
My only problem......I spend waaaay to much time here!
Sandy Robinson
Pocahontas, Ar.
Hi Sandy,
This is a Robber Fly and we have an entire page devoted to
them. Guess you might spend some additional time reading our
site now. They are a local species for you, but that does
NOT DISPROVE global warming.
Good morning Thanks for your response. I guess my confusion
comes in because according to the pics in my book, National
Audubon Society, First Field Guide to Insects, it says it
is not a Robber Fly, but a look-alike...Flower-loving Fly
(Apiocera haruspex). The main difference I saw was that it
didn't have the bristles and it has that bulb like thing at
the end of the abdomen. The robber flies that I have seen
here do not have that bulb like thing. I know Robber Flies
are common here, but I have never seen or heard of a Flower-loving
fly and according to my book, they are found in the west.
Bummer....thought maybe I had something unique in my yard!
Still a cool looking lil dude! Thanks again for a fantastic
site!!
Sandy Robinson
Hi again Sandy,
Now we are doubting our original identification since you
bring up a good point. We will check with Eric Eaton for clarification.
Here is Eric's assessment: "The robber fly in question is
a male Efferia. They have the bulbous claspers, making them
reasonably easy to identify."
Robber Fly
(07/18/2006) on the screen door in Missouri
not the best picture, we've not seen one of these before.
The stinger was huge! Any ideas?
This is a Robber Fly. They don't have stingers, but they
can bite. Eric Eaton wanted to point out that what appears
to be a stinger is an ovipositor.
Robber
Fly eats Sulphur Butterfly
(07/15/2006) Your Predator and Prey Page
Dear Bugman,
I have a couple of images that I would like to have submitted
to your "food chain" page..I am from upstate new
york, which is where these images were taken. The first is
a robber fly (with what looks to be a cabbage white butterfly).
The second image is of a green dragonfly with some sort of
small white moth in its mouth...not sure what "type"
of dragonfly it is, or what kind of moth...but thought they
were fairly interesting!
Christina
Hi Christina,
The Robber Fly is eating a Sulphur Butterfly.
Bee Killer
(07/10/2006) Fly or Bee?
Hi,
I find this bug every year on my tomato plants and was wondering
if he is some kind of carpenter bee or sawfly? I live in Southern
Calif. Thanks,
Suzanne
Hi Suzanne,
This is a Robberfly. More specifically, it is a Bee Killer
in the Genus Mallophora. We don't recognize the species. The
red legs are quite distinctive.
Bee
Killer Kills Japanese Beetle
(07/09/2006) Picture
Hi,
Here is a picture that I cropped of the bug I saw in my garden
yesterday. We live just north of Baltimore, MD. It was sucking
the juice out of a Japanese beetle.
Thanks,
Andrew
Hi Andrew,
My, oh, my! What a wonderful photo of a Bee Killer, a type
of Robber Fly, devouring a Japanese Beetle.
Southern Bee Killer
(05/30/2006) Interesting bee photo!
Hi,
Last year I was mowing the yard, and I saw what appeared to
be a huge bee flying towards my face. It turned out to be
a bumble bee flying about with a honey bee in it's mouth.
It was flying around, and landed on a bush, to apparently
devour the bee. It allowed me to get close enough to snap
a couple of pics. Can you tell me if this is normal behavior?
Here it is.
Thanks!
Richard Staron
Houston, Texas
Hi Richard,
This is most certainly not normal behavior for a Bumble Bee,
but it is perfectly normal for a Southern Bee Killer, Mallophora
orcina, a species of Robber Fly.
Mating
Mantids and Mating Robber Flies
(05/24/2006) Bug Love submissions
I ran across your site as I was attempting to identify a fierce
looking flying insect that I hadn't seen before. Thanks to
your site, I've identified him, and his 10,000 friends as
"Robber Flies". As I was taking a picture to submit,
a couple of the rascals saw the camera and thought they would
try out for "Bug Love". I thought it was a little
unusual, because all the other pictures I've seen of them
mating was tail-to-tail, unlike these two exhibitionists.
I've also included a shot I took last year of a couple of
Mantids. I had about 3 of them which I kept as "free
range" pets. I guess they liked it here, because they
stayed all season. Enjoy!
Jeff King
Krum, TX
 
Hi Jeff,
What wonderful images you have provided for our readers.
Australian Spider Wasp and Robber Fly
(04/03/2006) WTB? - Query
Hello Bug Master,
I took these photos a while ago in Australia. We have no idea
what they are. We think the first photo (Photo 1) could be
related to the Australian Spider Wasp. We think the second
photos (Photo 2a & Photo 2b) could also be related to
a wasp family. WIth the second photos the insect looks like
it is holding it's baby - maybe teaching it to fly. I was
using a standard lense so unfortunately I couldn't get the
insect any closer in the photo. Thanks for your help!
Cheers,
Libby
 
Hi Libby,
Though the coloration is slightly different from the Spider
Wasp, Cryptocheilus bicolor, we recently posted, we believe
it is either a color variation or a closely related species.
Your second image is of a Robber Fly with prey.
Robber
Fly eating Honey Bee from Australia
(03/28/2006) PLUS BONUS BUG MURDER
Hi Bugman.
Love your work, and I'm overjoyed to have discovered your
site - identifying bugs online is almost impossible as I've
not found a handy online key thingy, e.g. Does it have 6 legs?
Y/N, Does it have wings Y/N (where each Y and N is a link
to the next question page, all the way to the final answer).
The special offer today is a few somewhat unfocused shots
of a bee being impaled against a flyscreen by what looks like
a big horsefly (taken at my home in Sydney). It has a huge
proboscis that was pinning the poor honey bee down and appeared
to be sucking the life out of it. The murderer flew off leaving
the desiccated bee stuck to the screen. Many thanks in advance
for your help,
Aidan
P.S. Will I get an email if you post your identification(s)?
Hi Aidan,
Your murderer is some species of Robber Fly.
Hanging Thief
(03/25/2006) Help me PLEASE
Hi Bugman,
All I can say is WOW!!!!! What a WONDERFUL site. The BEST
bug site I've seen. Thank you. I love to photograph all sorts
of "Creepy Crawlers and Fliers" I live in Chicago,
Illinois, I can't find any information on this UFB (unidentified
Flying Bug). It's body length is about 1 1/4" to 1 1/2"
long, Fly's pretty fast and doesn't sit still for photo's.
It took a a lot of shot's to get this one. I'm sorry it's
not a very good shot. It's quite intimidating when this thing
flies at your head though. The branch that it's sitting on
is about the size of a mans index finger. Thanks again for
having a GREAT site.
Glenn
Hi Glenn,
Thanks for the compliment. This is a Robber Fly in the genus
Diogmites, the Hanging Thieves. Because of the bright orange
coloration, we believe this is Diogmites neoternatus.
Mating Robber Flies
(03/07/2006) Robber flies
Dear Bugman:
Can you identify this pair of mating Asilids? Can you tell
which is the female? I would assume the female is the one
hanging suspended, since craneflies mate that way; also, with
dragonflies it is always the male that holds fast to a perch,
unless they're doing it in flight. I am also attaching a photo
of a single individual of the same species. The shots were
made in early fall in a field of exotic grasses and thistle
near a pond in the San Francisco Bay area. We have another
larger Asilid at that pond that preys on damselflies, but
I have not seen this species with a prey item.
Thanks very much.
Odophile
Hi Odophile,
We need to defer to Eric Eaton on anything more general than
Robber Fly on this, though we agree the female is the suspended
member of the pair.
Robber Fly from Malaysia
(12/26/2005) I think it's a Robber Fly...
Hi Bugman!
Happy Holidays!
I think this is a Robber Fly (Family Asilidae); but, I'm not
sure what the species is - can you help? I took the photograph
this morning, here in Penang, Malaysia. The predator had its
proboscis inserted into the unlucky prey and wasn't all that
concerned about me taking its photograph, although it moved
three times during the photo session, LOLOL! Any help is appreciated.
Regards,
Nawfal
Nawfal Nur Photography
Hi Nawfal,
Yes, this is a Robber Fly, but we cannot help with an exact
species as we are not familiar with Asian species. Even North
American species are difficult to distinguish from one another
without careful anatomical examination that is just not possible
with a photograph, even a photograph as wonderful as yours.
Robber
Fly
(12/21/2005) beetle bug
My brother sent me this photo a couple years ago to ask if
I knew what it was. I had no idea at the time that there was
a website (yours) that I could consult. Now I know. He lives
in London, Ontario, and the subject was photographed on a
paper plate. I don't see any antennae but there are 6 legs.
And then there is a long component extending from the rear
end. I have seen subjects with ovipositers on your site -
is that was this is or does it have something to do with wings?
I don't remember if he said anything about flying. Can you
tell me what it is?
Paula
PS I have already spent hours going through your website looking
for this subject and have not seen everything - nevermind
reading all the emails!
Hi Paula,
This is a Robber Fly and we actually have an entire page devoted
to them. We usually get photos in the summer and that is a
good time to see them on our home page. We also have many
images of them mating. That is the abdomen extending beyond
the wings.
Mating
Robber Flies
(08/28/2005) Hi Daniel and Lisa Anne!
Hi Bugman!
AWESOME SITE AGAIN!!!!
I just can't seem to stop looking at all of the beautiful
pictures and excellent information!!!! Here are two Robber
Flies engaging in Bug Love on my pepper tree. Enjoy!
Cathy
Hi Cathy,
We will proudly post your image on our Bug Love page.
Hanging Thief
(08/21/2005) This bug is my friend
Hi Bugman,
We haven't noticed creatures like these in the Central Valley
of California until the last year or so. It's possible
that they've been here all along but I'm positive not in my
back yard. What is particularly striking about
this bug is it's tendancy to hunt and kill Paper Wasps that
lurk in my lawn and land on my pool. I really like
this bug. I would like to know more about this
one.
Thanks!
Friend Of The Wasp Hunters
Dear Friend,
This is a Robber Fly in the genus Diogmites, known as the
Hanging Thieves. They are skilled fliers and hunters as your
observations have proven.
Hanging Thief
(08/19/2005) robber fly
This robber fly was perched on the window seal at The Oyster
House on Mobile Bay, and was really freaking out the wait
staff there. I assured them this was no giant mosquito that
would suck them dry in one bite.
Bill Giles
Powder Springs GA
Hi Bill,
This is one of the Robber Flies in the genus Diogmites, the
Hanging Thieves.
Robber
Fly with Wasp Prey
(08/14/2005) Wasp Attack
Here are two wasps that do not appear to be of the same species.
The guy underneath is slowly spitting out drops of clear liquid.
The guy on top is attached to the lower one's rear end.
Bart Hansen
central VA
Hi Bart,
Your subject heading would more correctly read Wasp Attacked.
The attacker is a Robber Fly. These swift predators swoop
down on unsuspecting wasps, bees and flies. Flies do not chew
food, but inject a fluid that predigests the internal organs
which are then sucked out, leaving an empty shell behind.
Bee
Killing Robber Fly
(08/13/2005) bee like creature frightens dog
Hi!
Yesterday, ur dog Ellie alerted us to this bee-like creature
in our backyard. It was frightening enough to throw
her into a barking fit. Was she wise in warning us,
or is this big guy harmless? (He/she is around 2 inches
long..that is the bug not the dog.)
Thank you!
Amy Holloway
Austin, TX
Hi Amy,
This is actually a Robber Fly in the Family Asilidae and it
preys on bees. It is harmless to you and your dog, but if
you try to pick it up, it will probably bite.
Robber Fly
(08/07/2005) WHAT IS THIS?!?
Ok Bugman, I live in North Scottsdale, AZ. I was at work the
other night and one of our regular customers came inside and
said, "excuse me, but can you tell me if this is a spider
or a bird?" Bugman, I am not squeamish around almost
any insect (well, except centipedes, but I think everyone
should be), but this thing is horrific. I've lived here all
my life and have never seen anything like it. And by the pictures,
you can tell it was devouring a bee. Later, it dropped the
bee, which was still barely alive, and mostly hollow. What
the...? Please help, I am extremely curious. Check out the
few attached photos. Hope to hear from you soon.
Creeped out,
Chelsea
PS-: It had a feather like hump, short antennae, a grasshopper/segmented
like body, spiny legs, and huge eyes. I've studied biology,
and I don't get the conglamorate parts of this creature!
Hi Chelsea,
Great photo of a Robber Fly. These are predators that will
devour many types of insects. They are also capable of biting
painfully.
Dinner can be an Aphrodesiac for Robber Flies
(08/07/2005) Please tell me what this bug is
feel free to use this one too. It appears the female doesn't
really have her heart into what else is going on while she
dines.
Ted
Hi Ted,
We can come up with several scenarios for this Robber Fly
courtship. Perhaps he brought her a tidbit to keep her still,
or maybe he moved in while she was dining. At any rate, there
are future Robber Flies on the horizon which is good since
they are lethal predators.
Mating Robber Flies
(07/23/2005) a couple of photos and a moth ID
Hello
I wanted to let you know I love the site, and have
used it for many identification forays since we moved out
to the country here in south central Kansas. I also wanted
send you to the url for three of my recent photos. (they are
larger than I like to send through E-mail) One is of a mating
pair of robber flies, it was interesting to watch as the male
will vibrate his wings while wiggling the females head with
his front legs. One is a photo of a green moth I found on
the front deck this last night and I would appreciate any
help with the ID you could give me. The last if of a green
grasshopper. I do not know the species, but considering the
number of them again this year, the chickens will be getting
quite fat.
Thanks again,
William Tong
Hi William,
Thank you so much for the great letter and photos. We are
also very happy that you have used the site in the past. Quite
frankly, we are getting a little tired of responding to desperate
housewives with pantry beetles. Your green moth is a Virginia
Creeper Sphinx, Darapsa myron. If you go to this USGS
site, you might find it is not yet reported in your county.
Perhaps you could report the siting. We are thrilled to have
your Mating Robber Fly image for our brand new Love
Among the Bugs page. Your grasshopper is immature and
we do not recognize it.
Swatted
Robber Fly
(07/23/2005) We had this flying around our work and finally
killed it. What in the world is it?
Poor Dead Robber Fly. This is a beneficial insect that
often kills and eats other pestiferous flies.
Southern Bee Killer - Mallophora orcina
(07/22/2005) Is it a bee?
I found this insect late in the evening on my porch. I live
north of San Antonio, Texas. It is about an 1 - 1 1/4 inch (body
length). It is black with one spot of yellow on its thorax
and yellow between and below each eye. The wings are brown.
All the legs are furry and the hind legs have furry patches.
It looks like a very large bee, but in trying to identify
this insect the only thing that even remotely resembles it,
is the carpenter bee, but the markings are no where near similar.
Could you please help me identify this insect. Thank you!!!!
Jamie Miller
Hi Jamie,
We located your Robber Fly, one of the Bee Hunters, on BugGuide.
It is the Southern Bee Killer, Mallophora orcina. Adults feed
on honey bees which the descend upon rapidly while the bee
is unsuspecting. They sieze the bee by the thorax so the stinger
cannot be used. Nice photo.
Robber Fly
(07/23/2005) Strange Bug
Can you tell me what this bug is? It was sitting on the deck
railing. It measures 3-4 inches long.
Marguerite
Hi Marguerite,
We are positive you mean 3 - 4 centimeters and even that is
an exageration. This is a Robber Fly. They prey upon other
insects and grow to about 1 inch maximum.
Robber Fly preys upon a Green Bottle Fly
(07/19/2005) What is this bug
I have been surfing the internet trying to find out what this
is. I have it live in a baggy with its dead fly it was eating.
It seems very aggressive towards me when I move the bag. It
was in my garden window.
Sharon
Hi Sharon,
Great photo of a Robber Fly, Family Asilidae, preying upon
a Green Bottle Fly. Robber Flies are common, swift-flying
predators. They pounce upon resting insects from above and
use the short, strong proboscis to drain their prey's body
fluids, according to the Audubon Guide. On a more personal
note, please release it. Sharon, you would act aggressively
if someone put you in a bag, wouldn't you?
Robber Fly eating Wasp
(06/21/2005) What is it..
You wouldn’t happen to know what this is. I live in
Crosby Texas and found this bug on my patio.
Awesome photo of a Robber Fly dispatching one of the Thread
Waste Wasps.
Robber Fly
(06/10/2005) Hi, can you help me identify this fly?
Hi, My name is Cary and I found a fly that I cannot identify. I
live in the Orange County area of Calfornia. As
I began walking to my car to leave the beach, I noticed a
fly on the wall. It was about 1.5" long and
at first glace, it looked like a dragonfly because of the
large hump on the back of the head and the long abdomen but
the wings were not perpendicular to the body; they were laid
back like a regular fly. To my surprise, I put
my finger in front of it and it held on so i walked to
my car with this fly on my finger and managed to drive all
the way back home so that i would be able to take pictures
of it. I hope that these pictures are good enough
for identification. If you would like, I can also
send a short video if it as well.
Thanks,
Cary
 
Hi Cary,
You have sent in a photo of a Robber Fly from the Family Asilidae.
They are swift flying predators that pounce on resting insects
from above. We would have loved to see the photo of the Robber
Fly on your finger. They have keen eyesight and are very difficult
to approach since they are quick to take flight.
Thanks for your help and quick reply! I was reading around
about the robber fly and I learned that it has a proboscis
which could inject a toxin into its prey, which then dissolves
the meal internally, which then gets sucked up by the big
fly. Sounds as if it were a flying spider! The experience
really makes me think about how many oppertunities it had
to sting me but didn't. Very cool!
Thanks again,
Cary
Bee Hunter
(09/06/2004)
Any idea what this is, I live on Vancouver Island, Canada,
and have seen a number of these insects attacking and killing
wasps and bees. Any info would be appreciated.
Thanks
Stuart Clarke
Hi Stuart,
You have a totally awesome photograph of a Robber Fly, Family
Asilidae. There is one genus, Laphria, known as Bee Hunters.
Your fly belongs to that genus. Adults feed on Honey Bees,
though your photo shows a Yellow Jacket being devoured. A
species in California and Oregon is Sacken's Bee Hunter, Laphria
sackeni. Also, the larvae of robber flies are pretty much
now assumed to be parasitic on beetle grubs. According to
our Audubon Field Guide: "Sacken's Bee Hunter flies rapidly
and suddenly descends on an unsuspecting bee. It seizes its
victim on the thorax so the bee cannot use its stinger." You
might want to submit your photo to the new field guide we
advertise at the top of our homepage.
Bee
Killer
(08/05/2004)
I need help identifying something strange (like you don't
hear that all the time). I was out on my porch the other day
when I heard a buzzing sound from what I assumed was some
sort of beetle or something. There are a lot of
bugs around our wooded lot in western Virginia, so I didn't
think anything of it until it landed on the chair next to
me. It was big (about 2 1/2" long and fairly
"beefy"), blackish, and resembled a locust except
for the soft yellow and black ringed body that tapered to
a point at the end. I couldn't see the wings while
it was sitting there, but obviously it had some. I
was immediately reminded of something from a sci-fi movie
or a prehistoric critter on the Discovery Channel. I've
looked everywhere and can't find any descriptions or pictures
resembling it. However, I'll certainly be sure
to take my camera with me whenever I take a cigarette break
from now on.
-Michaele
(08/16/2004)
This is quite coincidental, in fact, because not two seconds
before I checked my e-mail, it had returned out on my front
porch and I was able to snap a picture. It's not very good
because I couldn't get too close before it flew away, but
here it is.
Michaele Davis
Hi again Michaele,
I'm glad you got the photo. You have a species of Robber Fly,
Family Asilidae. These are predatory flies that it locates
with those big eyes and often captures on wing. They are beneficial,
though will bite people if mishandled. Based on your original
description and your blurry photo, it seems like you have
a Bee Killer also known as a Giant Robber Fly, Promachus fitchii.
They are found in meadows and near honey bee hives from Massachusetts
to Florida and west to Texas and North to Nebraska. According
to our Audubon Insect Guide: "The Bee Killer often rests on
leaves and branches with a clear view of flowers visited by
Honey Bees. It seizes its victim from above, pierces its body
and sucks out juices, then drops the emptied prey. A dozen
or more bidies may pile up on the ground below a favorite
perch." Size can be deceptive. This species reaches 1 1/8
inches in length.
Robber Fly
(07/30/2004) BugMan,
I am hoping you can help me identify this bug. I
have had several of them flying in my house and one has stung
me (At least I think it was one like this, got me on the back
of the neck, and since I did not see it and this is the only
flying bug I have seen in my house I have given it the blame.) I
know this is a picture of a dead bug and I really strive not
to kill bugs but it was flying around in my daughters room
and she would not calm down (4 years old would not stop crying)
until it was dead and she could see it. So needless
to say I was forced to kill it so I could sleep (Does this
make me a bad person?). I live in Essex, MD, it
was about an inch and a half long, 6 legs, long slender tail,
big bug eyes, and 2 small antenna on its head (1mm maybe 2mm),
one set of wings that were tan from top to bottom with only
supports throughout no other coloring, and a small roundish
buldge on the top of its back above the wings with stripes
of brown and black. I am attaching 3 pictures to
see if you can help identify it. Thanks for all
your help.
Sincerely,
Matthew Rebbert
 
Hi Matthew,
Your insect is a Robber Fly, Family Asilidae. The adults are
predatory, and are important in the control of many insect
pests including Grasshoppers. The Robber Fly will attack insects
much larger than itself. They are capable of inflicting a
painful bite if carelessly handled, but they do not normally
bite people. Robber Flies often find their way into homes.
We would recommend trapping it in a glass when it alights
on the window, and then releasing it. Show your daughter that
the fly was taken outside so it could kill other bugs. Eric
Eaton adds "Your specimen of Robber fly (reddish-yellow
with black stripes) are Diogmites sp., the Hanging Thieves,"
named for the way they suspend themselves from one pair of
legs while feeding on a prey item." |
|
