ROBBER FLY
Robber flies -family Asilidae are large insects and tend to occur more commonly in the southern states. They comprise one of the most abundant families of present day insects.
Found through all parts of the world, over 530 genera and subgenera have been proposed and about 7,000 species are known.
There are nearly 1,000 North American species of robber flies, with more than 100 species occurring in Florida.
Many are stout and very hairy; some even resemble bumble bees or a damsel fly appearance.
Adults attack beneficial insects including wasps, bees, and dragonfliesand some spiders. Certain species are known to deplete the populations of places where honeybees are raised.
Adults attack pests like grasshoppers and much of their prey consists of plant-eating insects.
Larvae live mostly in soil or decaying wood and feed on the larvae of other insects.
Robber flies have a characteristic divot on top of the head that is located between their compound eyes.
Robber flies have legs that are bristled and these long, strong legs aid in prey capture and then kill it with toxic saliva. This saliva is injected through their short nose. The dissolved tissues are then sucked back up through the nose.
The females tend to have slightly broader abdomens than males.
Most robber flies will be brown, gray, or black coloration.
They live in grasslands and shrublands and seem to prefer areas with many flowers, this is where their favorite prey, small bees and wasps live.
Eggs are laid on a dead plant stem.
In the soil the larvae develop and then prey on other insect larvae.
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