Be careful if you plan to collect robber flies; they can inflict a painful bite if mishandled. If you need expert professional advice, contact your local extension office. Flies have two wings, while wasps have four. Some robber flies in the genus Laphria look almost exactly like bumble bees, complete with yellow fuzzy patches on their rather pudgy bodies. Spotted by gatorfellows. Each species has a characteristic habitat—e.g., tree trunk, foliage, grass, low plant, dead twig, gravel, or beach sand. Facts about robber flies. Would probably destroy human tissue a little bit as well. These giant robber flies are in the family Asilidae. After aerial chase, the large, buzzing Robber Fly overtakes its victim. Fly bites can cause symptoms such as itching, redness, and swelling. The green robber fly is a large robber fly with distinctive tiger stripes on the abdomen. As a general rule, robber flies that hunt on the ground lay eggs on or in the soil, and those that hunt from plants deposit eggs into the stems, flowers, or other parts of plants. I watched as this huge robber fly pounced on a honey bee. Note: An important thing here to note is – Gnats Bite but they do not sting like bees or wasps. But true flies always have the same characteristics: only one pair of wings (bees and wasps have two pairs); the second pair of “wings” on true flies are reduced to tiny knobby structures called halteres (which function like gyroscopes, assisting flight). I got some nice shots - they get better towards the end, so fast-forward if you get bored! Select your preferred way to display the comments and click 'Save settings' to activate your changes. Most tachinid flies are larger than a house fly and noticeably more bristly, but they range in size from 2–20mm and across the family there is a tremendous variety of shapes, colors and degree of bristling (Fig. Some cats are susceptible to fly bites on their ears, especially cats that live outdoors. First, it induces sleep in the patient, making them more vulnerable to the bite of a tsetse fly. Find out all about horse fly bites, black fly bites, deer fly bites, and more. The long, cylindrical abdomen is cream colored with thick, black cross-bands. They are around an inch long, and the noise they make while flying is quite loud. Horse-flies or horseflies are true flies in the family Tabanidae in the insect order Diptera.They are often large and agile in flight, and the females bite animals, including humans, to obtain blood.They prefer to fly in sunlight, avoiding dark and shady areas, and are inactive at night. As their common name implies, robber flies have voracious appetites and feed on a vast array of other arthropods, which may help maintain a healthy balance between insect populations in various habitats (Joern and Rudd 1982, Shurovnekov 1962). Fly bites differ depending on the type of fly. Robber fly insects are a mixed blessing to gardeners; if they’re seriously perturbed, they can inflict a painful bite, but they also help rid the garden of harmful pests like grasshoppers, other flies, wasps, leafhoppers, white grubs and pupating beetles. Everything else copyright © 2003-2020 Iowa State University, unless otherwise noted. Both are visual predators. The insect doesn't live long once it reaches maturity. Robber fly, (family Asilidae), also called assassin fly, any of about 6,750 species of predatory insects, worldwide in distribution, in the fly order, Diptera. Giant Robber Fly. The legs are reddish-brown and hairy. The bite injects a digestive saliva into the prey, immobilizing it, and the fly returns to its perch to finish its meal. horseflies and robber flies.) Larvae are grublike and live in or on soil, among decaying materials, or in rotting wood. It often hangs from branches or objects near the ground, waiting to ambush passing prey. The robberfly watches the air for movement from a perch. No wonder. Green-Eyed Robber Fly on Missouri Ironweed, Green-eyed robber fly (Promachus vertebratus) on Missouri ironweed (Vernonia missurica). The cuterebra, or botfly, is known to lay its eggs on the skin of animals. Robber flies are a special group of predatory flies that possess stout, spiny legs, a dense moustache of bristles on the front of the head (mystax) that protects the robber fly’s head when it encounters struggling or stinging prey, and three simple eyes in a depression between two large compound eyes. Symptoms. Robber flies’ audacity is legendary; on the Internet, one can find many stories of robber flies attacking bees, wasps, large grasshoppers, even hummingbirds. Robber fly, (family Asilidae), any of about 6,750 species of predatory insects, worldwide in distribution, in the fly order, Diptera. Similar species: Some robber flies are so long and slender they resemble damselflies. Hover flies are considered among the many important natural enemies of aphids and other plant-feeding pests. Robber flies deliver a painful bite, so be careful with them. Robber flies are not normally considered pests. Robber flies throughout Australia. that was busy gathering nectar. We facilitate and provide opportunity for all citizens to use, enjoy, and learn about these resources. Although humans are never on its menu, a robber fly can inflict a painful bite if mishandled. True flies with no stinger and only one pair of wings, robbers are predators—and giant robbers will attack any insect that flies, including wasps, bees, grasshoppers and dragonflies. Also in the Order Diptera (which includes all flies and mosquitoes) are the amazing robber flies. This is a truly awesome insect, and I relish each encounter I have with them. When cats have fly bites on their ears, a fly repellant cream may be used to deter the flies. The features upon which the family is founded and that support its monophyly (descent from a common ancestor) are rather subtle. 1). Robber flies live in urban areas, forests and woodlands. The robber fly’s deception goes even further. It often hangs from branches or objects near the ground, waiting to ambush passing prey. The scientific name of the robber fly pictured is Promachus vertebratus.The Greek background of the name promachos is “defender, champion.” Another translation says promachus means “challenger”, and yet another says “who leads into battle.” This particular fly is a killer. Each species has a characteristic habitat—e.g., tree trunk, foliage, grass, low plant, dead twig, gravel, or beach sand. Required fields are marked *. Fly bites are typically harmless, but you should still identify them. Flies may be fun for cats to catch, but they can also be a problem. It stabs other insects with its proboscis and injects them with venom, which liquefies their insides. To do so, it releases a compound called prostaglandin D2, which does two things. Physically similar to drain flies, this species preys on mammals and reptiles. Robber fly, (family Asilidae), any of about 6,750 species of predatory insects, worldwide in distribution, in the fly order, Diptera. I'm wondering if Robberflies bite. Their bite, adapted for their predatory lifestyle, injects digestive enzymes and a painful venom. Although they do not sting, Robber Flies do bite and their saliva contains neurotoxins to quickly immobilize prey and proteolytic enzymes to dissolve its internal organs so that they can later be easily sucked out. As with other robber flies, this species can inflict a painful bite if mishandled. Common Name: Robber fly Scientific Name: Varies Order: Diptera Description: Adult stages are medium to large (3/8 to 1-1/8 inch) flies often observed on stems of plants, on the ground or flying low. There are differences, of course, if one looks close. Three genera: Sceliphron, Trypoxylon, and Chalybion, Wildflowers, Grasses and Other Nonwoody Plants. Also, flies usually have huge eyes and short antennae. Giant Robber Fly – Promachus sp. The most commonly seen robber flies are dark in color, but some common types are orange. Ignore the troll. The most commonly seen robber flies are dark in color, but some common types are orange. While it has a short proboscis for injecting toxic saliva into prey, it doesn’t sting. The predatory habits of robber flies, both as adults and larvae, tend to put them into the same “beneficial” category as lady beetles, lacewings, mantises, and assassin bugs, since they devour many pest insects, including insects that damage crops. This fly has black eyes, a light colored "beard" on the face and a brown thorax. They certainly bear little resemblance to house flies. Flies cannot sting, and only certain flies bite (i.e. It can also transmit sleeping sickness (trypanosomiasis) to animals and humans. Their bite, adapted for their predatory lifestyle, injects digestive enzymes and a painful venom. In particular, Proctacanthus milbertii has a nasty looking lance under his chin that looks quite capable. This is one of the Giant Robber Flies in the genus Promachus. When I first saw this dragonfly I thought something had already fed on it, I reached out to touch it and that robber fly let it go and flew straight at me. The spines lining the legs of robber flies undoubtedly help them snag prey, as do the small, forward-pointing bristles beside a flycatcher’s bill. Many bee flies have elongated mouthparts that form a conspicuous beak, used for sucking nectar long-distance while hovering over flowers. Another is the red footed cannibal fly, which is a giant robber fly that has an abdomen with alternating yellow and black stripes, giving the insect the cool nickname of Panther fly. Nothing good could come of a bug sporting the name Cannibal and I was pretty certain I’d identified him correctly. When cats have fly bites on their ears, a fly repellant cream may be used to deter the flies. The legs are reddish-brown and hairy. Fly bites are typically harmless, but you should still identify them. THE BITE: The mouth of the robber fly … You will hear people saying Gnats sting but that’s completely wrong. Larval and adult robber flies are predators of other insects, and are famous for their ability to capture prey in the air. During the day, it is possible to see a Robber Fly sitting on a fence, handrail, or garden box. The robber fly is a predator of almost all flying insects. Find local MDC conservation agents, consultants, education specialists, and regional offices. Robber flies belong to the family Asilidae. Robber flies are large, bristly flies that catch their prey (usually other insects) mid-flight. It injects a fluid into its victims that breaks down the muscle tissue. Do giant robber flies bite? The proboscis of a Robber Fly is specialized for stabbing and sucking, and after one of these flies captures something, it will return to a perch in its territory to suck out its liquefied meal. If one lands on you, don’t slap it — instead, brush it lightly away. Call 1-800-392-1111 to report poaching and arson, Asilidae (robber flies) in the order Diptera (flies). They practice "extraoral digestion," which means they shoot enzymes into their prey to pre-digest it by liquifying the tissues. The saliva isn't venomous, but Russo said the bite is really painful -- so it's not a good idea to mess with it. Then it uses the proboscis to suck out the liquid. Horse-flies or horseflies are true flies in the family Tabanidae in the insect order Diptera.They are often large and agile in flight, and the females bite animals, including humans, to obtain blood.They prefer to fly in sunlight, avoiding dark and shady areas, and are inactive at night. Between the two large compound eyes, the head is depressed, with three tiny eyes (ocelli) in that little valley. Common Name: Robber fly Scientific Name: Varies Order: Diptera Description: Adult stages are medium to large (3/8 to 1-1/8 inch) flies often observed on stems of plants, on the ground or flying low. Females are larger than males. Robber flies are not picky. The name "robber flies" reflects their notoriously aggressive predatory habits; they feed mainly or exclusively on other insects and as a rule they wait in ambush and catch their prey in flight. The cuterebra, or botfly, is … A giant robber fly particularly likes to eat bees. After aerial chase, the large, buzzing Robber Fly overtakes its victim. Both adults and larvae are predators on other insects. Many other robber flies have black and yellow striped patterns and make loud buzzing sounds as they fly; these are bee and wasp mimics. Robber flies, also known as “assassin flies,” often resemble wasps or bees more than they do flies. The grublike larvae, as they move around in decaying organic materials, eat the eggs and larvae of other insects. Nonetheless, it makes stinging motions, brandishing genitalia at the tip of its abdomen as if it had a stinger. Robber flies also have a distinctive hollow space between their 2 large compound eyes. For that reason, Robber Flies are efficient predators, and they have a big appetite for bugs. Promachus hinei. After injecting the hapless meal with saliva that paralyzes and digests the prey’s bodily contents, the robber fly retires back to its perch and slurps up its insect smoothie. This is one of more than 20 similar-looking species of robber flies in genus Promachus (PROM-uh-kuss), all called giant robber flies or bee killers, that occur in North America north of Mexico. The name "robber flies" reflects their notoriously aggressive predatory habits; they feed mainly or exclusively on other insects and as a rule they wait in ambush and catch their prey in flight. Arthropods—invertebrates with “jointed legs” — are a group of invertebrates that includes crayfish, shrimp, millipedes, centipedes, mites, spiders, and insects. Robber flies range in length to almost 8 cm (3 inches), making them the largest of all flies. Species vary in appearance and some mimic wasps and bees. They are around an inch long, and the noise they make while flying is quite loud. Common Name: Robber Flies General Category: Predator Taxonomic Classification: Diptera: Asilidae Scientific Name: Many species Description Because of their large size and loud buzz when flying, these generalist predators are often confused with horse flies and other biting flies. Scared the CRAP outta me. Nonetheless, it makes stinging motions, brandishing genitalia at the tip of its abdomen as if it had a stinger. Sand Flies. Required fields are marked *. The Giant Robber Flies get their name for a reason. During the day, it is possible to see a Robber Fly sitting on a fence, handrail, or garden box. Spotted by gatorfellows. If handled roughly, robber flies (at least the larger ones) can inflict a painful bite. Once prey is spotted, it launches and grabs the insect in midair with spiny legs, then lands and uses its piercing mouthparts to drink the prey’s body fluids. A gardener’s friend, indeed! Bee flies are stout-bodied flying insects said to resemble bees, but there are syrphid flies and robber flies that do a much better job. Facts about robber flies. Several species even mimic bumble bees, with black and yellow stripes. The grublike larvae, as they move around in decaying organic materials, eat the eggs and larvae of other insects. For that reason, Robber Flies are efficient predators, and they have a big appetite for bugs. Some, however, eat honey bees, as well as wasps and bumble bees. A hallmark of this genus are the somewhat feathery, branching antennae. When it's flying around, it buzzes noisily and is intimidating. The typical foraging strategy of robber flies is similar to that of birds in the flycatcher group: They perch in exposed locations, then flit out to snatch prey, often returning to the same perch. Asilidae adults attack wasps, bees, dragonflies, grasshoppe… Like most flies, they have short antennae and three small ocelli between their compound eyes. While it has a short proboscis for injecting toxic saliva into prey, it doesn’t sting. From this table you can clearly see that – Buffalo and Sand Gnats bite whereas Fungus and Eye Gnats do not bite. Most have a long, tapered abdomen, a rather humpbacked appearance, and spiny legs, and typically rest with wings folded down the back. It can also transmit sleeping … Body length (not including appendages): most are ½ to ¾ inch; varies with species; some reach 1¼ inches. However, the preferred habitat is one that is open, sunny, and mostly dry. There may be as many as 10 million species of insects alive on earth today, and they probably constitute more than 90 percent all animal species. We protect and manage the fish, forest, and wildlife of the state. Their spiny legs allow them to grasp tightly and bristly faces protect them from prey that might try to bite back. Your donation to BugGuide will be matched up to $2500! I literally screamed. There are many different types of robber flies, … A few species of the genus Promachus are serious pests of apiaries because they feed on bees. Some cats are susceptible to fly bites on their ears, especially cats that live outdoors. The latter gave me the willies. The Asilidae are the robber fly family, also called assassin flies. The one pictured is called a bee-mimic robber fly… This family includes some of the largest and most distinctive insects in the order Diptera. Bumble Bee-Mimicking Robber Flies. They don’t “go after” humans, but if you mishandle them, they might bite. Family Asilidae – Robber Flies Live adult female robber flies photographed in the wild at Winfield, Illinois, USA. Yellow Flies Robber flies are found on all continents but Antarctica. Robber flies deliver a painful bite, so be careful with them. As with other robber flies, this species can inflict a painful bite if mishandled. Like other robberflies they are hunters, catching beetles, grasshoppers, wasps, and other flies, including each other! Robber flies are well equipped to catch flying insects and can actually snatch a snack right out of the air. While they rarely attack humans, they can inflict quite a nasty bite if provoked causing pain, swelling and redness at the bite site. The eyes are beautiful iridescent green, sometimes with a reddish or coppery cast. They often perch in conspicuous locations and make short flights chasing prey. Would probably destroy human tissue a little bit as well. An adult sand fly is less than 1/8 inch in length with long legs and wings that form a V shape. This nice big Giant Blue Robber Fly seemed pretty angry at being trapped inside the window, so I was a tad wary about catching it at first as I didn't know if it would try to bite me or not - I was blissfully unaware of it at the time, but they have a ferocious reputation for being quite aggressive! There are differences, of course, if one looks close. However, unlike bees and wasps, Robber Flies do not sting , and the " stinger " on this Robber Fly is actually a harmless ovipositor that she uses for laying eggs. The robber fly is a predator of almost all flying insects. The long, cylindrical abdomen is cream colored with thick, black cross-bands. They will occasionally bite humans, but they are not blood feeders, and will only bite on accident or if provoked. Robber flies are aerial predators of a variety of insects. It waits on a perch near flowers where it can see bees from above. When they’ve grown large enough, they pupate and emerge as winged adults. The Giant Robber Flies get their name for a reason. The tsetse fly bite is often painful and can cause red bumps or small red ulcers at the site of the bite. One species is known to prey on Japanese beetles. They are powerfully built, bristly flies with a short, stout proboscis enclosing the sharp, sucking hypopharynx. Learn more about fly bites here. Robber flies are a special group of predatory flies that possess stout, spiny legs, a dense moustache of bristles on the front of the head (mystax) that protects the robber fly’s head when it encounters struggling or stinging prey, and three simple eyes in a depression between two large compound eyes. The face often appears bearded, and the mouthparts are a pointy knifelike proboscis for injecting saliva into prey. Robber flies range in length to almost 8 cm (3 inches), making them the largest of all flies. Eleven days after Ed Johnson posted this near miss. You might be seeing them yourself but simply not recognizing what they are. A few species of the genus Promachus are serious pests of apiaries because they feed on bees. This large fly is feeding on a dragonfly. I recently photographed that same Giant Robber Fly in Pasadena, Texas on a bayou. Habitat. Flies may be fun for cats to catch, but they can also be a problem. Because they feed on other insects, robber flies are generally considered beneficial. I recently photographed that same Giant Robber Fly in Pasadena, Texas on a bayou. They probably do inject a venom as well, to stop their prey from struggling, accounting for how some can bring down large grasshoppers, or even dragonflies! Distribution. Many make a distinctive buzz or rattle in flight. Learn more about this and other robber flies on their group page. Several species even mimic bumble bees, with black and yellow stripes. Species vary in appearance and some mimic wasps and bees. Predators of the Robber Fly include other Robber Flies … Common Name: Robber Flies General Category: Predator Taxonomic Classification: Diptera: Asilidae Scientific Name: Many species Description Because of their large size and loud buzz when flying, these generalist predators are often confused with horse flies and other biting flies. Robber flies are conspicuous denizens of the desert southwest, but are common nearly everywhere. The robber flies are an abundant and diverse family (Asilidae) known for their predatory behavior. As adults, robber flies dart from an exposed perch, snag, and stab insects with their pointy proboscis (tubelike mouth) as they fly past. Find out all about horse fly bites, black fly bites, deer fly bites, and more. If handled roughly, robber flies (at least the larger ones) can inflict a painful bite. Larvae are grublike and generally live on the ground among decaying organic materials, or in decaying wood. 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