Robber Fly

Description:

Small, hairy robber flies that resemble, at first glance, Leaf-cutter Bees, Megachilidae.

Habitat:

Eggs (at least in Megaphorus minutus) are laid in a mass on the stem of a plant, such as a stiff blade of grass. This unusual (for an Asilid) egg-laying habit is shared with the related genus Mallophora (Herschel Raney--see this page). Certain Mallophora are reported to be parasitoids of scarab beetles, and the unusual egg-laying habit is thought to aid in the dispersal of tiny larvae in search of hosts. Given the similarity of egg-laying habits in at least some species of the two genera, it seems likely that Megaphorus is also a parasitoid or predator of ground-dwelling insect larvae. See Mallophora account for more information.

Notes:

I found this thing perched up high on a dead pear tree branch. I haven't found it's Scientific name yet.