Hello Bug People!
My daughter and I were quite surprised when this large insect buzzing around our deck returned with a yellow jacket for lunch. I was able to capture the Kodak moment, and with your website, identified the insect as a Robber Fly. What a brave guy — out catching bees (how DO they do that?!) and not a bit fazed by a camera in its face… Blessings,
Cindy
Hi Cindy,
Judging by the prominent beard and the large size, we think this is Robber Fly in the genus Promachus. Thanks for getting up close and personal.
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Posted 05 August 2006
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Mosquito?
We live in West Tennessee and found this strange bug in our garage. In the picture, it’s resting on top of a flashlight. Thanks,
Cody
Hi Cody,
This looks like one of the Robberflies in the genus Diogmites, the Hanging Thieves.
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Posted 21 July 2006
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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.”
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Posted 20 July 2006
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on the screen door in Missouri
not the best picture, we’ve not seen one of these before. The stinger was huge! Any ideas?
This is a Robber Fly. They don’t have stingers, but they can bite. Eric Eaton wanted to point out that what appears to be a stinger is an ovipositor.
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Posted 18 July 2006
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Fly or Bee?
Hi,
I find this bug every year on my tomato plants and was wondering if he is some kind of carpenter bee or sawfly? I live in Southern Calif. Thanks,
Suzanne
Hi Suzanne,
This is a Robberfly. More specifically, it is a Bee Killer in the Genus Mallophora. We don’t recognize the species. The red legs are quite distinctive.
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Posted 10 July 2006
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Bug Love submissions
I ran across your site as I was attempting to identify a fierce looking flying insect that I hadn’t seen before. Thanks to your site, I’ve identified him, and his 10,000 friends as “Robber Flies”. As I was taking a picture to submit, a couple of the rascals saw the camera and thought they would try out for “Bug Love”. I thought it was a little unusual, because all the other pictures I’ve seen of them mating was tail-to-tail, unlike these two exhibitionists. I’ve also included a shot I took last year of a couple of Mantids. I had about 3 of them which I kept as “free range” pets. I guess they liked it here, because they stayed all season. Enjoy!
Jeff King
Krum, TX
Hi Jeff,
What wonderful images you have provided for our readers.
WTB? – Query
Hello Bug Master,
I took these photos a while ago in Australia. We have no idea what they are. We think the first photo (Photo 1) could be related to the Australian Spider Wasp. We think the second photos (Photo 2a & Photo 2b) could also be related to a wasp family. WIth the second photos the insect looks like it is holding it’s baby – maybe teaching it to fly. I was using a standard lense so unfortunately I couldn’t get the insect any closer in the photo. Thanks for your help!
Cheers,
Libby
Hi Libby,
Though the coloration is slightly different from the Spider Wasp, Cryptocheilus bicolor, we recently posted, we believe it is either a color variation or a closely related species. Your second image is of a Robber Fly with prey.
Help me PLEASE
Hi Bugman,
All I can say is WOW!!!!! What a WONDERFUL site. The BEST bug site I’ve seen. Thank you. I love to photograph all sorts of "Creepy Crawlers and Fliers" I live in Chicago, Illinois, I can’t find any information on this UFB (unidentified Flying Bug). It’s body length is about 1 1/4" to 1 1/2" long, Fly’s pretty fast and doesn’t sit still for photo’s. It took a a lot of shot’s to get this one. I’m sorry it’s not a very good shot. It’s quite intimidating when this thing flies at your head though. The branch that it’s sitting on is about the size of a mans index finger. Thanks again for having a GREAT site.
Glenn
Hi Glenn,
Thanks for the compliment. This is a Robber Fly in the genus Diogmites, the Hanging Thieves. Because of the bright orange coloration, we believe this is Diogmites neoternatus.
Robber flies
Dear Bugman:
Can you identify this pair of mating Asilids? Can you tell which is the female? I would assume the female is the one hanging suspended, since craneflies mate that way; also, with dragonflies it is always the male that holds fast to a perch, unless they’re doing it in flight. I am also attaching a photo of a single individual of the same species. The shots were made in early fall in a field of exotic grasses and thistle near a pond in the San Francisco Bay area. We have another larger Asilid at that pond that preys on damselflies, but I have not seen this species with a prey item.
Thanks very much.
Odophile
Hi Odophile,
We need to defer to Eric Eaton on anything more general than Robber Fly on this, though we agree the female is the suspended member of the pair.
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Posted 07 March 2006
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Tagged: bug love
beetle bug
My brother sent me this photo a couple years ago to ask if I knew what it was. I had no idea at the time that there was a website (yours) that I could consult. Now I know. He lives in London, Ontario, and the subject was photographed on a paper plate. I don’t see any antennae but there are 6 legs. And then there is a long component extending from the rear end. I have seen subjects with ovipositers on your site – is that was this is or does it have something to do with wings? I don’t remember if he said anything about flying. Can you tell me what it is?
Paula
PS I have already spent hours going through your website looking for this subject and have not seen everything – nevermind reading all the emails!
Hi Paula,
This is a Robber Fly and we actually have an entire page devoted to them. We usually get photos in the summer and that is a good time to see them on our home page. We also have many images of them mating. That is the abdomen extending beyond the wings.
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Posted 21 December 2005
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Hi Daniel and Lisa Anne!
Hi Bugman!
AWESOME SITE AGAIN!!!!
I just can’t seem to stop looking at all of the beautiful pictures and excellent information!!!! Here are two Robber Flies engaging in Bug Love on my pepper tree. Enjoy!
Cathy
Hi Cathy,
We will proudly post your image on our Bug Love page.
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Posted 28 August 2005
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Tagged: bug love
This bug is my friend
Hi Bugman,
We haven’t noticed creatures like these in the Central Valley of California until the last year or so. It’s possible that they’ve been here all along but I’m positive not in my back yard. What is particularly striking about this bug is it’s tendancy to hunt and kill Paper Wasps that lurk in my lawn and land on my pool. I really like this bug. I would like to know more about this one.
Thanks!
Friend Of The Wasp Hunters
Dear Friend,
This is a Robber Fly in the genus Diogmites, known as the Hanging Thieves. They are skilled fliers and hunters as your observations have proven.
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Posted 21 August 2005
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