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Robber Fly

Insects

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
Diet
Insectivore 2
System (Realm)
Terrestrial 3
System (Realm)
Marine 3
Living or Extinct
Yes 4
Partially Attested
Scientific Name
Asilidae 1
Source names the family Asilidae, not a single species
Identification
Distinguishing Appearance
Powerfully built, bristly flies with a short, stout proboscis 1
Comparison
CITES Appendix
Not Listed 5
Connections

Child Taxon Of

Diptera, Taxa
Source Wikidata: Robber Fly

In Biome

Chaparral, Biomes
Source Asilidae
Savanna, Biomes
Source Asilidae
Steppe, Biomes
Source Asilidae
Tundra, Biomes
Source Asilidae
In the Other Atlases

Found In

Colombia

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Denmark

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Norway

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Sweden

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

United States

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

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
  • In Biome: Savanna, Habitat
    Typical habitats include savannah, forest steppe, open steppe, semidesert, maquis shrubland, and related shrubland types such as fynbos and chaparral.
  • In Biome: Chaparral, Habitat
    Typical habitats include savannah, forest steppe, open steppe, semidesert, maquis shrubland, and related shrubland types such as fynbos and chaparral.
  • In Biome: Steppe, Habitat
    Typical habitats include savannah, forest steppe, open steppe, semidesert, maquis shrubland, and related shrubland types such as fynbos and chaparral.
  • In Biome: Tundra, Habitat
    In the Northern Hemisphere, some species are even adapted to tundra.
View the Source
2. 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 Source
3. GBIF Species API
GBIF Species APIView the Source
4. Wikidata (taxon extant/extinct status)
Wikimedia Foundation / Wikidata contributorsQ837089, descriptionView the Source
5. UNEP-WCMC Species+ database (CITES Secretariat): Species+: Insecta
UNEP-WCMC Species+ database (CITES Secretariat)Species+ taxon_concepts, id 28
Quote, Species+ taxon_concepts, id 28
"cites_listing":"I/II/III/NC","eu_listing":"A/B/C/NC","higher_taxa":{"kingdom":"Animalia","phylum":"Arthropoda","class":"Insecta","order":null,"family":null},"synonyms":[],"common_names":[{"name":"Insectos","language":"ES"},{"name":"Insects","language":"EN"},{"name":"Insectes","language":"FR"},{"name":"昆虫纲","language":"ZH"}],"cites_listings":[]
View the Source
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