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Robber fly (female)

Asilidae

Description:

All robber flies have stout, spiny legs, a dense moustache of bristles on the face (mystax), and 3 simple eyes (ocelli) in a characteristic depression between their two large compound eyes. The mystax helps protect the head and 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:

Garden in Tallante, Cartagena (Spain)

Notes:

The short, strong proboscis is used to stab and inject victims with saliva containing neurotoxic and proteolytic enzymes which paralyze and digest the insides; the fly then sucks the liquefied meal through the proboscis.

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7 Comments

marta vázquez
marta vázquez 12 years ago

You're welcome, Eulalia.

eulalia rubio
eulalia rubio 12 years ago

Gracias por la información.

marta vázquez
marta vázquez 12 years ago

Sí, Eulalia, tienen un aguijón enorme que utilizan para alimentarse de otras moscas, avispas, abejas, libélulas e incluso saltamontes y arañas, por eso son conocidas también como moscas asesinas.

eulalia rubio
eulalia rubio 12 years ago

Enorme aguijón.

Ashish Nimkar
Ashish Nimkar 12 years ago

Welcome..!!

marta vázquez
marta vázquez 12 years ago

Thanks a lot for your ID, Ashish.

Ashish Nimkar
Ashish Nimkar 12 years ago

Robber fly..

marta vázquez
Spotted by
marta vázquez

Cartagena, Murcia, Spain

Spotted on Aug 18, 2011
Submitted on Oct 8, 2011

Related Spottings

Robber Fly Robber fly Robber fly Robber Fly

Nearby Spottings

Mediterranean fruit fly or medfly/Mosca de la fruta, Caparazón de vaqueta,serrana o caracol blanco. cucarrana, bicho de bola o cochinilla Wasp / Avispa

Reference

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