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BEES-WASPS-HORNETS (Hymenoptera) | FLIES (Diptera) | ROBBER FLIES (Asilidae) | SPIDERS (Araneae) | BEETLES (Coleoptera) | GRASSHOPPERS, KATYDIDS & CRICKETS (Orthoptera) | TRUE BUGS (Hemiptera) | ORDER NEUROPTERA

ROBBER FLIES (Asilidae)


FAMILY ASILIDAE

The family Asilidae contains about 7,100 described species worldwide. All robber flies have stout, spiny legs,
a dense moustache of bristles on the face (mystax), and 3 simple eyes (ocelli) in a characteristic depression
between their two large compound eyes. The antennae are short, 3-segmented, sometimes with a bristle-like
structure called an arista. The short, strong proboscis is used to stab and inject victims with saliva containing
neurotoxic and proteolytic enzymes which paralyze and digest the insides. Many species have long, tapering
abdomens, sometimes with a sword-like ovipositor. Others are fat-bodied bumblebee mimics.
Adult robber flies attack other flies, beetles, butterflies and moths, various bees,
dragon and damselflies, Ichneumon wasps, grasshoppers, and some spiders.

The text above is from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia and is licensed under the GFDL.

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Robber Fly
Robber Fly
Robber Fly
Robber Fly
Robber Fly Eye
Robber Fly Eye
Robber Fly
Robber Fly
Robber Fly
Robber Fly
Robber Fly
Robber Fly
Robber Fly
Robber Fly
Robber Fly
Robber Fly
Robber Fly - Male
Robber Fly - Male
Robber Flies-Mating
Robber Flies-Mating
Robber Fly
Robber Fly
Robber Fly - Male
Robber Fly - Male
Robber Fly-Male
Robber Fly-Male
Robber Fly-Male
Robber Fly-Male
RobberFly-Female Ovipositing
RobberFly-Female Ovipositing
Robber Fly-Female
Robber Fly-Female
Robber Fly-Female
Robber Fly-Female
Robber Fly-Female
Robber Fly-Female
Giant Robber Fly-Female
Giant Robber Fly-Female
Bee-like Robber Fly- Male
Bee-like Robber Fly- Male
Bee-like Robber Fly- Male
Bee-like Robber Fly- Male
Bee-like Robber Fly- Female
Bee-like Robber Fly- Female
Bee-like Robber Fly
Bee-like Robber Fly
Bee-Like Robber Fly
Bee-Like Robber Fly
Robber Fly
Robber Fly
Robber Fly
Robber Fly
Hanging Thieves Robberfly
Hanging Thieves Robberfly
Hanging Thieves Robberfly
Hanging Thieves Robberfly
Hanging Thieves Robberfly
Hanging Thieves Robberfly
Hanging Thieves Robberfly
Hanging Thieves Robberfly
Robber Fly Munching on Damselfly
Robber Fly Munching on Damselfly
Hanging Thieves Robberfly
Hanging Thieves Robberfly
Hanging Thieves Robber Fly
Hanging Thieves Robber Fly
Hanging Thieves Robberfly
Hanging Thieves Robberfly
Red-footed Cannibalfly-Male
Red-footed Cannibalfly-Male
Red-footed Cannibalfly-Female
Red-footed Cannibalfly-Female
Red-footed Cannibalfly-Female
Red-footed Cannibalfly-Female
Red-footed Cannibalfly-Female
Red-footed Cannibalfly-Female
Red-footed Cannibalfly-Male
Red-footed Cannibalfly-Male
Red-footed Cannibalfly-Male
Red-footed Cannibalfly-Male
Red-footed Cannibalfly-Male
Red-footed Cannibalfly-Male
Robber Fly-Male
Robber Fly-Male
Robber Fly-Male
Robber Fly-Male
Robber Fly
Robber Fly
Bearded Robber Fly-Male
Bearded Robber Fly-Male
Robber Fly
Robber Fly