Tag Archives: robber flies

World Robber Fly Day

Posted on April 30, 2017 by the roused bear

Don’t ask me why, but apparently today is “world robberfly day.” This one is Laphria flavicollis. And this is Holcocephala fusca. Just another reason to drink beer.

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The Predator and the Scavenger

Posted on June 6, 2015 by the roused bear

I found a robber fly, possibly Laphria thoracica flavicollis (as identified on Bugguide) today while I was chasing butterflies.  It had captured a small colorful bug as its prey. The activity had already attracted a scavenger.  Note the much smaller fly taking advantage … Continue reading →

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Green-eyed Lady

Posted on August 7, 2014 by the roused bear

I just got back from a work trip to Camp Ripley in central Minnesota.  I took the opportunity to visit some local wild areas there after work.  There is a SNA site called The Ripley Esker.  I was mainly chasing … Continue reading →

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Life Cycle of a Robber Fly

Posted on July 17, 2013 by the roused bear

This is a robber fly, probably an Efferia species.  It seems to be ovipositing (laying eggs) on the head of a pale purple cone flower. What happens after that is open to some speculation.  Scientists are not sure how the … Continue reading →

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Another Cool Bug

Posted on June 26, 2013 by the roused bear

I came across this robber fly while I was road-hunting for butterflies tonight. Probably a female Efferia alibarbis.  

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Robber Flies are Pretty Impressive

Posted on July 14, 2012 by the roused bear

I have always found robber flies to be impressive.  There are two small species around my place that are very common and I have photographed them a lot.  There are some others that are larger and not very common, and I … Continue reading →

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More Yummy Meals

Posted on July 9, 2012 by the roused bear

There is another small robberfly–3 or 4 mm long, which seems to be fairly common.  I do confess that I never noticed them before last year, however.  It is Holocephala.  There three very similar species in the Eastern U. S., … Continue reading →

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Bugs for Breakfast

Posted on July 7, 2012 by the roused bear

Cerotainia is an effective predator. It seems to prefer perching on the tips of leaves that have long narrow points. Although they are not large there are a lot of them and they are pretty good at capturing prey.  

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A Tiny Robber Fly Returns

Posted on July 5, 2012 by the roused bear

There is a tiny robber fly that is quite common around here.  I never noticed it until a few years ago.  Now I see them everywhere. This is Cerotainia albipilosa. Funny how you can go a long time never noticing … Continue reading →

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Another Robber Fly

Posted on August 8, 2011 by the roused bear

I saw this robber fly at the Bugguide gathering.  I don’t know the name of it, but it is a female, as evidenced by its long, pointed abdomen.

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