#robberflies

[platycryptus]

It’s a fly-eat-fly world out there… in the sandy scrubland of central Florida, a hanging thief robberfly (Diogmites esuriens) devours a beefly (Exoprosopa fascipennis).

Interestingly enough, the beefly is a parasitoid that lays eggs in the nests of sand wasps (Bembix), which are themselves specialist hunters of flies including both beeflies and robberflies (though I’m not sure whether this hanging thief is too formidable to be on the wasps’ menu). Insect food webs are amazingly convoluted.

(9/30/23)

[apsciencebydan]

Hello fellow bees

[swords-and-chaos]

Yes, I know I post about robberflies a lot. But just look at this little goober. They’re gay!

[thegrandimago]

Taken 2022 10th September, this was a kite-tailed robberfly (Tolmerus atricapillus), possibly female. In Sweden, they occur wherever there is open habitats or woodland edges. They're active hunters often seen during the summer. Name comes from the tip of their abdomen looking like the end of a kite. #animal #animals #djur #natur #naturliv #nature #insect #insects #fauna #insekter #insekt #robberfly #robberflies #tvåvingar #rovflugor #rovfluga #insectagram #wildlife #arthropods #arthropod #invertebrate #invertebrates #animalia #arthropoda #insecta #diptera #asilidae #tolmerus #tolmerusatricapillus #kitetailedrobberfly (at Erkenlaboratoriet) https://www.instagram.com/p/CnrnhXaoA6z/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[whatnext10]

Robber Flies Can be Unpredictable and Interesting

Up, Up, and Away Yesterday I decided to take what I call a “bug walk” around my property. After several years of doing this, I kind of know where I’m likely to find insects and often which ones I’m likely to find where. But sometimes they surprise me. I had actually finished my walk and was heading inside when this robber fly (Family Asiliidae) flew by me and landed at my feet. I quickly snapped…

[onenicebugperday]

Hanging thieves, Diogmites sp., Asilidae (robber flies)

Photo 1 by seaheart88, 2 by pat_tiller, and 3 by mayfly1963

[snakeguy999]

Fleas and robberfly for Batter

[herpsandbirds]

Bee-mimic Robberflies (Laphria flavicollis), mating, family Asilidae, East TX, USA

photograph by Paxon Kale

[addicted2wasps]

Believe it or not, this is a FLY! It landed right next to me while I was having lunch! I think it's Laphria thoracica. Amazing bumblebee mimics!

[michaelnordeman]

Laphria flava or Bumblebee robberfly. Värmland, Sweden (July 9, 2016).

[kas-e]

Portraits from the Alien World.

Robberfly, Cornsnake, and Malaysian Dead Leaf Mantis. First two were shot in the wild (North Florida), but I raised the mantis from an L2 to adulthood (back when I was breeding jumping spiders). This was just just after her ultimate molt.

Shot using the reverse technique, flash, diffuser, and Nikon gear.

[platycryptus]

one of the sillier insect interactions I’ve witnessed… this giant robberfly (Proctacanthus sp.) was lying in wait for prey when a winnow ant (Aphaenogaster treatae) crawled over and tried to bite at its feet, so the robberfly kicked it away, only for the ant to return and repeat the process at least 6 or 7 times before the robber got fed up and left

what i find particularly funny about this is that the robberfly is a voracious predator that eats everything from small flies to wasps and dragonflies bigger than itself, but the ant confidently strolls up and assumes that its fair game to carry back to the nest because it isn’t moving much (though i’m pretty sure this type of robberfly only attacks flying prey so the ant wasn’t in any real danger)

(Massachusetts, 7/18/21)

[apsciencebydan]

Your snacks: Are they 1-handers or 2-handers

[swords-and-chaos]

I like robberflies the normal amount

[theineffableimplications]

Spot the robber fly!

[tawnyterror]

preciousness