#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!

[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.

[theineffableimplications]

Spot the robber fly!

[tawnyterror]

preciousness

[apsciencebydan]

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

[swords-and-chaos]

I like robberflies the normal amount

[drhoz]

#2307 - Saropogon sp.

A genus of at least 120 species of robber fly, found around the Mediterranean, the western half of the US, Mexico, the west coast of South America, tropical Asia, and New Zealand.

Horopito, North island Volcanic Plateau, New Zealand.

[onenicebugperday]

@orevet submitted: more bugs from the Bronx: scale insects on a reed leaf and a bumblebro

The first ones are aphids rather than scale insects! I think specifically mealy plum aphids. They leave a sort of waxy/powdery looking residue where they feed. And the second one is only pretending to be a bumblebee! It's actually a robber fly, and they want very badly to eat bees. And other bugs. :)