Robber Fly or Flower Loving Fly ??????

bugman

July 20th, 2006 at 12:00 am

Categories

Robber Flies

Flower-loving Fly
That is what it looks like in my insect book, BUT, it says they are in the west and I live in NE Arkansas. It was resting on a pole I am using to hold up some cone flowers. A stray, maybe? Think global warming is doing some strange things! It is also similar to the Flower Fly you have pictured. Is that the same thing? Thanks so much for a fantastic site. My only problem……I spend waaaay to much time here!
Sandy Robinson
Pocahontas, Ar.

Hi Sandy,
This is a Robber Fly and we have an entire page devoted to them. Guess you might spend some additional time reading our site now. They are a local species for you, but that does NOT DISPROVE global warming.

Good morning Thanks for your response. I guess my confusion comes in because according to the pics in my book, National Audubon Society, First Field Guide to Insects, it says it is not a Robber Fly, but a look-alike…Flower-loving Fly (Apiocera haruspex). The main difference I saw was that it didn’t have the bristles and it has that bulb like thing at the end of the abdomen. The robber flies that I have seen here do not have that bulb like thing. I know Robber Flies are common here, but I have never seen or heard of a Flower-loving fly and according to my book, they are found in the west. Bummer….thought maybe I had something unique in my yard! Still a cool looking lil dude! Thanks again for a fantastic site!!
Sandy Robinson

Hi again Sandy,
Now we are doubting our original identification since you bring up a good point. We will check with Eric Eaton for clarification. Here is Eric’s assessment: “The robber fly in question is a male Efferia. They have the bulbous claspers, making them reasonably easy to identify.”