Robber Fly

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robber fly, robber flies, Asilidae, insect predator, compound eyes, leave
A robber fly hanging underneath a leave.

Robber Fly (Family Asilidae) shares many characteristics of its close relative, the House Fly (Family Muscidae), but the former can be distinguished by its enlarged thorax and elongated abdomen. This predatory insect relies on sight, swiftness and surprise to catch insects mostly on the wings. It uses its spiky legs to grasp its prey before sucking it dry using its short proboscis, leaving behind only an empty casing.

robber fly, insect predator, Asilidae, leaf hopper, sucking moutparts
Robber fly preying on a leaf hopper.

These flies are quite common in wooded areas, where they are often seen sitting on exposed twigs or hanging upside down on the tip of a leave, ready to ambush any potential prey. They come in varying color from blackish to grey and even bright green. It is a ferocious hunter in the insect kingdom, capable of preying on other insects much larger than itself like dragonflies, bees and wasps.

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