Robberflies (Asilidae)

by Jeffrey S. Pippen | Back to Jeff's Miscellaneous Invertebrates Page | Jeff's Nature Pages

The Robberflies (Asilidae) comprise a large and diverse family of flies (order Diptera). Robberflies are predatory on other insects, and although they look really mean and occasionally land on people, they rarely bite if left un-hassled. When they land on you, they're only looking for a ride -- and they might even launch off you to chase down and eat the pesky deerfly that's stalking you, so let 'em ride!

Three-banded Robberfly (Stichopogon trifasciatus)
Brunswick Co., NC
25 Aug 2007

This species of robberfly exhibits behavior superficially like a tiger beetle.

Promachus sp.
Durham Co., NC
5 Aug 2006

This robberfly was huge!

	Red-footed Cannibalfly (Promachus rufipes) Durham Co., NC 5 Aug 2006
	Red-footed Cannibalfly (Promachus rufipes) Orange Co., NC 8 Sep 2006 This robberfly is munching on a skipper.

robberfly (Heteropogon sp.)
Watauga Co., NC
23 June 2006

robberfly (Machimus sp.)
Watauga Co., NC
22 June 2006

	unidentified robberfly Moore Co., NC 9 June 2007
	unidentified robberfly Orange Co., NC 21 June 2007

unidentified robberfly #9884
west of Sonora Pass in Tuolumne Co., CA
11 July 2007

unidentified robberfly #9918
west of Sonora Pass in Tuolumne Co., CA
11 July 2007

unidentified robberfly #0509
Plumas Co., north of Yuba Pass, CA
15 July 2007

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Created on ... Sep 27, 2006 | jspippen@duke.edu