Brown Robber Flies

Description:

A mating pair. Robber flies have stout, spiny legs, a dense moustache of bristles on the face (mystax), & 3 simple eyes (ocelli) in a characteristic depression between their two large compound eyes. The mystax helps protect the head & face when the fly encounters prey bent on defense. The antennae are short, 3-segmented, sometimes with a bristle-like structure called an arista.

Habitat:

Open area of mixed woods next to a lake.