Robber flies are aggressive predatory flies of the family Asilidae, found in open, sunny habitats worldwide, recognized by a stout, bristly body and a dense mustache of hairs on the face that is thought to protect the head while subduing struggling prey. They hunt other flying insects, sometimes ones larger than themselves, ambushing them in midair and stabbing them with a short, hardened proboscis that injects paralyzing and digestive saliva before the fly drains the liquefied contents.
Facts
Classification
System (Realm) System (Realm) Living or Extinct Partially Attested
Scientific NameSource names the family Asilidae, not a single species Identification
Distinguishing AppearancePowerfully built, bristly flies with a short, stout proboscis 1 Connections
In the Other Atlases
- Also in Geography Atlas: Colombia, found in there.
- Also in Geography Atlas: Denmark, found in there.
- Also in Geography Atlas: Norway, found in there.
- Also in Geography Atlas: Sweden, found in there.
- Also in Geography Atlas: United States, found in there.
Sources
1. Asilidae
Intro, first sentence
The Asilidae are the robber fly family
Intro, second sentence
They are powerfully built, bristly flies with a short, stout proboscis
View the Source2. Wikidata: Robber Fly
- Wikidata Q837089, class allow-list match (w-wdresolver-0926)
- Wikipedia 'Asilidae': feed mainly or exclusively on other insects
- Child Taxon Of: Diptera, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chain
View the Source3. GBIF Species API
4. Wikidata (taxon extant/extinct status)
Wikimedia Foundation / Wikidata contributorsQ837089, descriptionView the Source Reader Challenges (0)
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