The Asilidae are the robber fly family, also called assassin flies. They are powerfully built, bristly flies with a short, stout proboscis enclosing the sharp, sucking hypopharynx. [1][2] The name …

Robber fly, (family Asilidae), any of about 6,750 species of predatory insects, worldwide in distribution, in the fly order, Diptera. Robber flies range in length to almost 8 cm (3 inches), …

Jan 31, 2025 · Though it looks like a large bee, a Robber Fly is actually a fly so it does not sting. The sheer size of the insect can alarm people unfamiliar with it, but the loud buzzing it creates …

Because of their large size and loud buzz when flying, these generalist predators are often confused with horse flies and other biting flies. However, because they are not blood feeders …

Robber flies are distinctive, medium-sized to large, bristly or hairy flies. There are over 1,000 species of robber flies (family Asilidae) in North America; and nearly 100 have been recorded …

Apr 7, 2025 · Robber flies have long, strong legs that are bristled to aid in prey capture. Sexual dimorphisms are not extreme, although females tend to have slightly broader abdomens than …

May 27, 2024 · Robber Flies are flies that are known for their aggressive predator habits and can attack their prey mid-flight. They are found in abundance across the world and belong to a …

Jul 22, 2025 · Dennis D.S., Barnes J.K. (2011) Tentative key to robber fly (Diptera: Asilidae) subfamilies based on pupal cases. Zootaxa 3031: 37–46 (Full text) (12)(13)

Adult robber flies perch on stems of low plants or other objects and attack prey in the air. They feed on bees, beetles, dragonflies, other flies, grasshoppers, leafhoppers, wasps, and other …

Aug 23, 2025 · Robber flies are large (1/2 to 1 inch), aggressive predators that capture prey while in flight! They have prominent eyes, long legs and a tapered slender abdomen.