E-gads, what’s this? Bucks County, PA
August 6, 2009
Hi Mr. Bugman. I’m a mom of 2 and had just strapped my kids into their seats today – August 6th – when I noticed this who-knows-what-kinda-bug on my dashboard. It was a little less than an inch long and was near my a/c vent. It didn’t appear to want to fly anywhere and didn’t seem agitated but the close-up of it made me think of the movie, “The Fly”!
I drove home and had forgotten about it. Now I’m wondering 3 things: What is it? How did the poor thing get in our minivan (and how can it get out?!) ? And is it at all harmful?
Thanks so much! LOVE your site! And best of luck on the book 
Sharon
Bucks County, PA (35 miles north of Philadelphia)
Hanging Thief
Hi Sharon,
This awesome Robber Fly is known as a Hanging Thief. It probably entered your minivan the same way you did, through the door, or perhaps through an open window. It can leave the same way. We haven’t heard any reports of people being bitten by Hanging Thieves or other Robber Flies, but they do bite their prey and it is entirely possible if a person mishandles one of them, the person may be bitten. There is a big difference between “will it bite” and “can it bite” and we would say that it is not inclined to bite, but it might bite. Your photos are amazingly wonderful.
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Posted 06 August 2009
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Unidentified insect found in Umbria, central Italy.
August 6, 2009
Bug was on an 8 cm plank in Umbria Italy. `no-one in the area has seen one like it before. See attached pictures. Although the pictures have the title spider 1 and spider 2 it may not be a spider as it appears to have 6 legs
Ruth
Todi, Umbria, Italy
Robber Fly from Italy
Dear Ruth,
This really is a spectacular Robber Fly in the family Asilidae, but we are uncertain of the species. We have a vague recollection of having identified a very similar looking Robber Fly once, but we haven’t the time right now to research that. Perhaps one of our readers will be able to assist in a species identification.
Update from Karl
Hi Daniel:
It looks like Pogonosoma maroccanum, which occurs in Italy, France, Austria and probably other parts of Europe as well. Regards.
Karl
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Posted 06 August 2009
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Bee eating another bee
August 6, 2009
We saw a bee catch another bee in midair. It then flew away with it’s prey in mouth only to get eaten by a bird in midair. Food chain in action!
Jonathan Bergado
Santa Fe Springs, CA
Bee Killer Kills Bee
Hi Jonathan,
The predator in your photo is not a Bee, but rather a Robber Fly known as a Bee Killer. It is Mallophora fautrix, the only member of the genus in California according to BugGuide. The prey is a Honey Bee.
Bee KIller Kills Bee
Crane Fly with a hefty meal I suspect?
August 1, 2009
I was at a park and I saw a pair (attached) of flying insects buzz by and so I naturally went over to have a look. I was expecting a mating pair but then I saw this. The blurry picture was while what I suspect is a Crane Fly was grappling for better control of the wasp (also a very windy day). I’m curious, is this indeed a Crane Fly?
Jeff
Mount Pleasant, SC (near Charleston)
- Hanging Thief eats Red Wasp
Hi Jeff,
Your predator is a Robber Fly known as a Hanging Thief in the genus Diogmites which may be viewed on BugGuide, and the prey is a Red Wasp, Polistes carolina, which can also be viewed on BugGuide. Hanging Thieves often catch their prey while flying. Hanging Thieves get their common name from their habit of hanging from one leg while eating.
Giant bee eating Japanese beetle
July 30, 2009
Hello!
While working in my garden, i came across what appeared to be a giant bumblebee eating a Japanese beetle. The bee had a fuzzy abdomen that was striped yellow and black. It was between 1 3/4 ” and 2 ” long. The Japanese beetle was 1/2 ” long. The bee was flying around holding the beetle in it’s mouth. It was huge! Any ideas on what it is?
tree
Floyd county, VA
Bee-Like Robber Fly eats Japanese Beetle
Hi tree,
About a week ago we receive a question if Robber Flies ate Japanese Beetles. We wish your photo had arrived before we answered. Since Japanese Beetles are an invasive exotic species that does considerable damage to ornamental plants, many gardeners would welcome these Robber Flies into their yards, including our own mother in Ohio. This is a Bee-Like Robber Fly in the genus Laphria, which can be distinguished from the genus Mallophora by the antennae. This is explained on BugGuide on the Mallophora genus page thus: “Resemble Laphria, another genus of robbers that mimic bumblebees, but is even hairier and has antennae with a very thin terminal final segment, whereas Laphria has thick antennae.“ Based on images posted to BugGuide, we believe your specimen most closely resembles Laphria grossa, but we would like an expert confirmation on the species.
Bee-Like Robber Fly eats Japanese Beetle
Loud flying wasp-mosquito-spider
July 23, 2009
Can you tell me what this is? Because I’m convinced that there is a mad scientist somewhere missing this experiment!
While coming home from work four nights ago, my brother in law accidently let this bug in. It flew in and went up our stairs making a VERY loud buzzing sound. He initially thought it to be a common Mosquito Hawk because of it’s erratic flying pattern, but then it landed long enough for him to get a good look and he discovered it was not. Hopefully it’s not some kind of killer bug because it landed on his head at one point!. We live in South Texas so we’re pretty used to odd bugs, but this one was weird enough to warrent an ID request. He was able to capture in a Gatorade bottle and I got out my macro lens for some closeups.
II included the best of the photos that I was able to take in hopes of an ID. It looks like a GIANT mosquito to me! Sorry for the last picture being so unclear. There were water drops left in the bottom of the bottle and given the thickness of the plastic that was the best shot I could get of it’s face.
It is brownish red in color, has a 3 segmented body, and it appears that all 6 of it’s legs were attatched at the middle segment. As I said before, it made a VERY loud buzzing sound and didn’t seem very happy to be detained! His face looked like that of a mosquito in that he looked like he could either draw blood or nectar with it. His eyes are huge and black and protruded from the sides of his head. From above, I think he looks like a wasp because of the wing shape and segmented body but the design on his back is strange, similar to a house spider. He even had black back hairs that you can see in the side profile picture! Gross! And he was a “sturdy” bug as well. I could feel it everytime he hit the side of the container! I was a bit scared of him so it was hard to take the pictures! He was so big I was just sure he was going to burrow through the plastic and get me!
Please help me figure out what this unusual critter is!
Just Wondering
South East Texas
- Hanging Thief
Dear Just Wondering,
Your brother in law let a Hanging Thief in the house. A Hanging Thief is a Robber Fly in the genus Diogmites. All Robber Flies are predators and the Hanging Thief gets its common name from its habit of hanging from one or two legs while feeding. There is an awesome photo on BugGuide that illustrates the feeding habits of the Hanging Thief. Hanging Thieves do not bite people routinely, but that is not to say that they can’t bite people if carelessly handled. We believe they are capable of biting, but we have never gotten a report nor read any accounts of it actually happening.
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Posted 24 July 2009
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Strange Flying Bug in Yard
Mon, Jun 22, 2009 at 9:16 AM
Flying insect. Looks like it is laying eggs. Fly type body, wasp like wings, has design on body like bee. Looked like a giant mosquito to me. Made deep buzzing sound as a warning when I got too close. Never saw one before.
the bug guy
Tucson, Arizona
Robber Fly: Efferia rapax???
Dear bug guy,
This is a Robber Fly, and we believe it is in the genus Efferia. There is a photo of Efferia rapax posted to BugGuide with numerous comments. That photo looks very similar to your specimen, and it is also from Arizona. It would really take someone far more qualified than we are to properly identify what species of Robber Fly you have.
Robber Fly: Efferia rapax???
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Posted 22 June 2009
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Is this a bee or fly?
Tue, Jun 16, 2009 at 4:53 AM
Nearly everyday I come home from work to find one or two of what look like skinny bumblebees on my front porch clinging to the screens. The porch was just recently screened in and doesn’t have a door yet which is how they are getting on the porch. The bees/flies are pretty docile and easy to catch. I’ve been able to catch them in wads of cloth and then I just open the cloth outside and they fly away. I have a large flowerbed right outside the porch with lots of blooming flowers which is probably what is attracting them in the first place. I see plenty of the regular fat bumblebees in the garden all the time. I live in central florida and this has been going on for about a month now.
Just in case the pictures are not clear enough you can also see them in my photobucket acount, which is as follows.
Kara
central Florida, Citrus county
Bee Killer
Good Morning Kara,
What a magnificent image of a Southern Bee Killer, Mallophora orcina, a species of Robber Fly that is a very convincing bumblebee mimic. Souther Bee Killers prey on insects, including bees. Its proximity to your flower bed can be explained if that flower bed is frequented by bees. BugGuide also has information on this species. BugGuide indicates this of the genus: “Large, fuzzy, bee-mimicking robber flies. Resemble Laphria , another genus of robbers that mimic bumblebees, but is even hairier and has antennae with a very thin terminal final segment, whereas Laphria has thick antennae.” Your specimen has very thin antennae.
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Posted 16 June 2009
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Salticid kills Asilidae Foodchain
Sat, May 23, 2009 at 10:09 PM
Hi guys,
Got this picture today of a Jumping Spider catching a tiny Robberfly. The spider is one I have been trying to identify with the help of the University of Southern Queensland but there are over 500 species most of which have never been photographed so it is proving quite difficult. Hope you like the shot
aussietrev
Queensland, Australia
Jumping Spider eats Robber Fly
Hi Trevor,
We cannot believe how far we had to go back in our email inbox to retrieve your letter which we were too busy to post when we first noticed it. Summer is approaching in the northern hemisphere and our mail is increasing to the point that we must virtually ignore much of it. Thanks for sending us your awesome image of a Jumping Spider feeding upon a Robber Fly.
Robber eats bee foodchain
Sun, Mar 8, 2009 at 11:34 PM
Hi guys,
This robberfly has caught itself a native bee. It is dull and windy here today with a cyclone off the coast so I took the flash with me and was quite pleased with the result. Hope you like it too.
aussietrev
Queensland, Australia
Robber Fly eats Bee
Hi Trevor,
Thanks for sending us a photo demonstrating your new technique. It looks like a studio portrait. We are a bit behind in our posting since we have embarked upon fulfilling a longtime desire to establish a home aquarium. This endeavor has occupied much of our free time since the cabinet needs to be stained and sealed before we can even begin to stock the aquarium with freshwater Amazon species.
Giant Fly?
Thu, Feb 26, 2009 at 4:25 AM
I was sitting in my garden on new years day 2009 when this huge flying thing buzzed past my head, did a few loop the loops and settled on the frame of the swing we have in the back garden. I was amazed at the size as i measured it over 2 inches long. I grabbed my camera from inside and took this picture before it flew away at great speed. I have showed it to alot of locals and they have all said they have never seen anything so big before. Is this abnormal or some migrating insect from a far away land?
Mr B
Perth, Western Australia
Giant Yellow Robber Fly
Dear Mr B,
This is some species of Robber Fly in the Family Asilidae. Robber Flies are predatory insects, and the larger species are quite capable of capturing bees in flight. We haven’t had any luck identifying your species on one of our common sources for Australian insects, the Insects of Brisbane Website, but since you are in Perth, your insect might have a range limited to the western portion of the continent. As we continued our research, we found the Giant Blue Robber Fly, Blepharotes spendidissimus, listed on the same website. The Giant Blue Robber Fly looks very similar to your specimen. Continued research revealed the Giant Yellow Robber Fly, Blepharotes coriarius, also on the Insects of Brisbane Website. Closer inspection of your photograph seems to indicate the telltale golden yellow abdomen beneath the wings, which would confirm that this is probably a Giant Yellow Robber Fly.
large fly looking dead insect.
Fri, Dec 19, 2008 at 4:39 PM
We found this one ( dead already ) on the ground along the grand canyon, az. It was at least 3 inches long and had these striking stripes on its back end and these large eyeballs! the kids thought this was so neat looking and because of its size it was a bit shocking that it was dead.
anyhoo – I have been trying to identify it and have had no luck. can anyone help?
thanks so much!
claudia and kids ( thomas hannah emma and lilly)
grand canyon arizona
Giant Robber Fly
Hi Claudia and Kids,
Now that the semester is finally finished and we have submitted our grades, we are trying to send Christmas cards to friends and family. WE have been neglecting our web site email and have only been posting one or two letters a day. We are happy to inform you that this is a predatory Robber Fly, probably a Giant Robber Fly in the genus Promachus. We believe it may be Promachus sackeni which is found in Arizona according to BugGuide, but we would like to have an expert opinion to substantiate this identification.
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Posted 21 December 2008
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