Robber Fly

Description:

KINGDOM: Animalia PHYLYM: Arthropoda CLASS: Insecta ORDER: Diptera FAMILY: Asilidae GENUS: Efferia SPECIES: pogonias The Robber Flies are air hunter. They also known as an Assassin Fly and Bee Killer. They have strong legs which can catch prey on flight. They are medium to large size flies with large eyes and necked head. They are active predators on flying insects, unselective in prey species. They even prey on web weaving spiders. Their mouthparts are the triangular proboscis which insert into prey and suck the juice. Most Robust flies are with noticeable "beard" of setae around the face. It is believed that they serve as protection to their face from damage by their prey. Most Robber Flies are reddish-brown in colour. Different species that we found are looked similar and hard to be identified. Their mouthpart is the large pointed proboscis. Their thorax and legs are hairy. Their abdomen are long and thin. They are commonly seen in our backyard and in the bushes in Brisbane Female robber flies deposit creamy colour eggs on plants or in gaps within soil, bark, or wood. Egg-laying habits are different depend on species and habitat. Most species lay eggs in masses and are covered with protective coating. Robber fly larvae live in the soil or in rotting wood. Larvae are also predators, they feed on eggs, larvae and other soft-bodied insects.