Diptera502 species

Family Robber Flies (Asilidae)

Asilidae is a family in the order Diptera. Browse 502 named species recorded in this family, or open an individual profile for its available identification and natural-history information.

Guides

Robber Fly Guide

Species in Asilidae (502)

Northern Chiselmouth

Andrenosoma fulvicaudum

Identification: Head: Covered with white hair. Mustache (mystax) black, stout bristles. Some black bristles around antenna base. Antenna: Black, short with 3 joints. Thorax: Varied black and gray. Down center two wide black stripes. Thorax sides (ple

Fiery Chiselmouth

Andrenosoma igneum

Identification: Similar to A. fulvicaudum except the postpedicel (first flagellomere) is red and the male genitalia are different.

Asilus sericeus

Identification: Head: Covered with golden pile, including behind the eyes. Row of brownish bristles across back of head. Mustache (mystax) has a thin layer of very long brownish-yellow bristles. Antenna: Base segments more brownish-yellow. Segment 3

Ringed Micropanther

Atomosia glabrata

Identification: Face/mystax with white hairs; ocellar tubercle with two long white setae and several shorter ones; antennae about 0.6 times head width; antennae mostly dark; scutellum with two long thin white lateral setae; front & mid femora black d

Halloween Goldenrobber

Callinicus pictitarsis

one of several spp. of this genus in Calif. Sort of a generalized vespid wasp mimic. --Eric Fisher, 16.vi.2007

Golden Tiger Fly

Ceraturgus aurulentus

Identification: distinctive species, readily recognized by its small size, rich golden pollen, bicolored femora and tibiae, and short, thin, parallel-sided proboscis Rare species: fewer than two dozen specimens collected in the past 200 years. BugGui

Red-backed Tiger Fly

Ceraturgus elizabethae

Identification: Very dark, with elongate antennae, perhaps a mimic of Tachytes

White-faced Micropanther

Cerotainia albipilosa

Identification: Area between eyes (frons) and top of head (vertex) very wide. Upper face and top of head has silvery-white pile. Eyes greenish. Types: Holotype as Cerotainia albipilosa male by Curran, 1930. Type Locality: North Carolina. In American

Yellow-faced Micropanther

Cerotainia macrocera

Identification: Area between eyes (frons) and top of head (vertex) very wide and covered with brown-yellow hairs. Eyes brown.

San Rafael Bandit

Cyrtopogon longimanus

Identification: Per Eric Fisher: "This sp. is actually a close relative of C. marginalis , of the eastern U.S. & Can. They both share a puffed-up, shiny black scutellum, which lines-up with a series of shiny-black spots along the sides of the thorax;

Bumblerobber

Dasylechia atrox

Identification: From couplet 2 of Key to the Genera of the Laphriini in , p. 118: Antennae with a distinct terminal style; palpi enlarged, head thickly set with long hairs, genitalia very small, large robust hairy species, bumble bee - like in appear

Violet Black-legged Robber Fly

Dioctria atricapilla

Length: 10-12mm. This is an all blue-black robberfly with bright yellow halteres. It is the only Doctria species with all black legs. Males have prussian blue eyes. The wings are darkened towards the base, particularly in the male. The female has a g

Dioctria baumhaueri

Length 8 to 13 mm. This is a mainly black robber fly, but the front two pairs of legs are orange with a dark stripe along the upper surface. It also has a pale stripe on the side of the thorax. Unless identified by a recognised expert, a photo is req

European Longhorn Robber

Dioctria hyalipennis

Identification: delicate build; long slender abdomen is narrower at the base than at the tip; halteres yellow; legs less hairy/spiny than most robber flies, fore and mid legs yellowish with dark streaks on top side, hind legs dark. Abdomen black, shi

Small Yellow-legged Robber Fly

Dioctria linearis

Length: 8-11mm. The abdomen of this species is mainly black but with orange side patches, and often orange bands, on the tergites. The front and mid legs are entirely yellow with the back legs being yellow and black. Unless identified by a recognised

Orange-legged Robberfly

Dioctria oelandica

Britain's largest Dioctria with long dark wings that have colourful reflections in some lights. All three pairs of legs are largely orange. The adults prey on insects such as sawflies and ichneumons. The larvae are presumed to develop in woodland soi

Common Red-legged Robberfly

Dioctria rufipes

Size approx 15 mm. The front 2 pairs of legs are usually completely orange-red and the hind legs almost wholly black, though variants do occur (see image below). All Dioctria species have shiny patches on the side of thorax which in good light show a

Silver-spotted Hanging Thief

Diogmites discolor

Identification: Silver spotting, dark abdominal base

Little Hanging Thief

Diogmites misellus

Identification: Smallest Diogmites . Central stripe on top of thorax shades to red towards front

Missouri Hanging Thief

Diogmites missouriensis

Identification: pale reddish golden species; proboscis reddish brown, abdomen yellow without distinct blackish markings

Plain-tailed Hanging Thief

Diogmites neoternatus

Identification: medium-sized brownish species with long legs; abdomen strongly constricted between segments II & III; mesonotum with three velvety black stripes that contrast with the light background of the disc

Black Hanging Thief

Diogmites platypterus

Identification: The dark Diogmites in the south. Looks amazingly like a black species of paper wasp when flying low and slow in vegetation. The shining dark scutellum or thoracic shield is almost characteristic, along with the nearly all-dark abdomen

Black-banded Hanging Thief

Diogmites properans

Identification: medium-sized species with three black mesonotal stripes (vs brownish in D. salutans ) and black dorsal bands on abdomen

Brown-banded Hanging Thief

Diogmites salutans

Identification: medium-sized, brownish red; mesonotum with three dark brown stripes (the median one divided for its entire length)

Northern Flare Fly

Eccritosia zamon

Identification: Appearance distinctive--see images. Quoting original description (Townsend, 1895): A stout species with large thorax. Head blackish, front with black hair; face more yellowish, with long pale yellow beard, extending on the cheeks. Fir

Sand Hammertail

Efferia albibarbis

Identification: mystax (moustache) white; female has relatively short and conical ovipositor, compared to E. aestuans The north shore of Lake Erie is the only region where it occurs in eastern Canada. -- Rob Cannings

Southeastern Hammertail

Efferia apicalis

Identification: A petite Efferia/Nerax of the southeastern coastal plain. Note the following (Herschel Raney-- Key to Efferia of Eastern United States , comments here ):

Golden Club-legged Hammertail

Efferia armata

Identification: Modified hind tibia of male is distinctive.

Sagebrush Hammertail

Efferia benedicti

Identification: "The very short bristles on the front half of the top of the thorax, the gray body and the male's silver-white abdomen with white-parted hairs is diagnostic in the northern part of its range (BC and Washington), where no other Efferia

Yellow-bearded Hammertail

Efferia pogonias

Identification: Body and wings dark, mystax (beard) yellowish Females oviposit in soil.

Scrub Hammertail

Efferia slossonae

Identification: From account at Robber Flies of Florida : Quoting original description (Hine, 1919): Male. Total length 14 millimeters. Mystax prominent, mostly white, but with a number of black bristles in the upper part, palpi with black pile, bear

Arizona Club-legged Hammertail

Efferia tagax

Identification: Males are distinguished from other species of the albibarbis group by large size (over 25 mm), enlarged hind tibia, and mystax with mixed black and white hairs.

Sapphire-tailed Twigsitter

Holopogon sapphirus

"It perches on twig tips of leguminous plants, just like many other Holopogon ." (comment by Eric Fisher)

Autumn Laphria

Laphria affinis

Identification: Fall flight time and the two front yellow legs are pretty diagnostic. Please note that correct spelling of specific epithet is affinis . (BC)

Radiant Laphria

Laphria aktis

Identification: Nearly identical to Laphria sericea . Clear view of male terminal appendages necessary for identification from photographs. Females not separable from photos. Difficult to impossible to distinguish from L. sericea from photographs. Ph

Common Black Laphria

Laphria canis

Identification: L. canis is difficult (sometimes impossible) to distinguish from several similar species from photos. Please place photos that are not conclusively identified under the canis complex page. Antennae help distinguish from the plumper At

Champlain Laphria

Laphria champlainii

Identification: According to Walton's original 1910 description (at BHL, here , figures of plate IX here ), champlainii has dense yellow pile on the first through the fourth abdominal tergites (fifth on male), with 'anvil-shaped' black patches on the

Ashy Laphria

Laphria cinerea

Identification: The legs of this species are covered in dense whitish pile, while the scutum is sparsely-haired, and often looks bare from some angles. This species shows pale pile on abdominal segments 5-6, and black scutellar bristles. Laphria cine

Black-tailed Laphria

Laphria flavicollis

Identification: L. flavicollis and L. virginica are easy to confuse. The main gestalt things to look for are the hairiness of the black abdomen: very fuzzy in virginica , somewhat glossy in flavicollis . The golden hair on the top of the thorax looks

Arrowhead Laphria

Laphria index

Identification: Difficult to impossible to distinguish from L. ithypyga from photographs. Photos that are not conclusively identified should be placed here . Original description here

Southern Arrowhead Laphria

Laphria ithypyga

Identification: Difficult to impossible to distinguish from L. index from photos. Diagnostic features discussed here . Photos that are not conclusively identified should go here Original description here

Boreal Laphria

Laphria posticata

Identification: Two forms, which may be good species . Nominate posticata shows black scutellar bristles, and yellow hairs on lateral portions of third abdominal tergite, and all of the fourth and fifth tergites. The form scutellaris has yellowish sc

Dagger Laphria

Laphria sicula

Identification: Difficult to impossible to distinguish from several other species from photographs. Photos that are not conclusively identified from genitalia should be placed here .

Silver-backed Laphria

Laphria trux

Identification: Large silver patch of hairs typically in front of the scutellum.

Pinewoods Laphria

Laphria virginica

Identification: Easy to confuse with L. flavicollis . The main gestalt things to look for are the hairiness of the black abdomen, very fuzzy in virginica but somewhat glossy in flavicollis . The golden hair on the top of the thorax looks more swept b

Winnemana Laphria

Laphria winnemana

Identification: Nearly impossible to distinguish from several other similar species from photographs. Photos that are not conclusively identified should be placed in the Laphria canis complex here .

Apache Sandpirate

Lasiopogon apache

Identification: According to Rob Cannings, "The dark reddish tibiae/tarsi and genitalia, the gray-gold thorax and abdomen and the locality help determine the species. The only other Arizona Lasiopogon is an undescribed species from the central mounta

Dark Pismo Sandpirate

Lasiopogon bitumineus

Identification: According to Tristan McKnight, "They're distinguishable in the field by the long thoracic bristles and dark brown color (as opposed to the other local species L. littoris, which is silvery-grey)."

Ashy Sandpirate

Lasiopogon cinereus

Identification: Slender, strongly gray species with medial thoracic stripe (per Rob Cannings).

Glade Sandpirate

Lasiopogon currani

Identification: Many have reddish tarsi, tibiae and genitalia and the third antennal segment is often reddish, too. The giveaway here (if you can see it) is that the top surface of the halter is completely black. This is the only Lasiopogon in the re

Pale Pismo Sandpirate

Lasiopogon littoris

Identification: "This species is distinguished by its small size, even for a Lasiopogon (about 5-7mm); its all-white hairs and bristles; and the extensive silvery-gray tomentum over almost all the body. The fourth antennal segment (second flagellomer

Great Lakes Sandpirate

Lasiopogon tetragrammus

Identification: four apparent scutal stripes, half light/half dark tergite tomentum, and bluntish ovipositor shape ( comment by Tristan McKnight)

Slender-footed Robberfly

Leptarthrus brevirostris

Length: 7-10mm. This is a dark fly with black legs except for orange on the tibiae - but this colour doesn't extend to the apex. It has black legs with red bands on the mid and hind tibia. The female's ovipositor is dorsolaterally flattened. The genu

Striped Slender Robberfly

Leptogaster cylindrica

Feet without pads. Hind femur is yellowish. Third antennal segment ends in bristle. Resembles a crane fly in flight. Leptogaster guttiventris is similar but has reddish hind femur. Unless identified by a recognised expert, a photo is required. If the

Kite-tailed Robberfly

Machimus atricapillus

Generally larger and greyer than M. cingulatus with a more strongly marked abdomen. There are also differences in details of the antennae and genitalia. The front tibia are largely red and lack the black bands seen in other Machimus species. Males of

Brown Heath Robberfly

Machimus cingulatus

Size 10 to 15mm. A smallish robberfly with black and red legs. The femora are black on the anterior surface and orange of the posterior surface, with an orange ring near the tip. The top of the thorax has a thick black central line. Machimus atricapi

Machimus griseus

Identification: Per Eric Fisher, the only Machimus in the U. S. with spotted wings.

Machimus maneei

Identification: Excerpts from Robber Flies of the Southeast: " Machimus maneei occurs in sandy pinewoods throughout the eastern U.S. and Canada though populations appear to be spotty...Compared to other Machimus , this species is relatively easy to i

Machimus sadyates

Identification: "Distinctive in the Northeast by having a combination of the all-black femur, tibia with black anterior but pale posterior, and shiny black last (non-ovipositor) tergite." (Comment by Tristan McKnight)

Southern Bee Killer

Mallophora orcina

Identification: Similar to M. bomboides but smaller (than (16-24 mm vs 24-27 mm) and has first 4 tergites yellow-haired (in bomboides , tergites 1-3 yellow/white, but 4th is black). [ comment by Eric Fisher]

Megaphorus minutus

Identification: See discussion on images. Differentiation from related species may be difficult from photos. The costa ends at the tip of the wing, femora are black basally, dorsum of abdominal segments 3 or 4-7 are covered in short black pile, the h

Nannocyrtopogon irvinei

Identification: "The male face has large bumps and a wavy ridge along the edge, which are covered with a velvety tomentum " ‒ Eric Fisher

Nannocyrtopogon vanduzeei

Identification: "Males ... are distinctive because most of the abdomen is covered with gray, which leaves only narrow black stripes & spots; most Nannocyrtopogon have much blacker abdomens." [ comment by Eric Fisher]

Common Awl Robberfly

Neoitamus cyanurus

12 to17mm. The Awl Robberflies are named for the distinctive long ovipositor of the female. The last segments of the abdomen are glossy black - part of the genitalia. Femora are black and the tibiae are bright orange with black tips. Males are easier

Nevadasilus auriannulatus

Identification: Per Eric Fisher, "The striking red and black legs and the stout, black bristles of the legs, head and thorax are characteristic for this species."

Nicocles pictus

Original publication (Loew, 1866; in Latin!) gives size as: Long. corp. 5 1/3 lin., long. al. 5 1/4 lin. Long. corp. = length of body, long. al. = length wing. The unit is some version of the "line", see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Line_(unit) , pe

Ommatius ouachitensis

Identification: The genus character of the branched antennae for this group is usually visible. Can be common in summer in the right habitat. Fearless of approach. Often perches with the characteristic upright stance at the top tips of downed tree br

Proctacanthus coquillettii

A "sand dune-loving fly limited to the southern part of the Colorado River drainage." (Comment by Eric Fisher.)

Proctacanthus fulviventris

Identification: Upcurved proboscis, mostly or entirely black femora, black thorax, black and red abdomen, mystax yellow to orange.

Proctacanthus nigriventris

Identification: Description from Hine : Body very dark, nearly black; wings uniformly rather pale brown. Mystax very pale yellowish, often with black bristles intermixed, beard gray, occipito-orbital bristles black. Thorax dark, brown pollinose, meso

Proctacanthus rufus

Identification: Females elongate with bristle-tipped ovipositor

Promachus bastardii

Identification: Similar to P. fitchii . Males have distinctive white tip on abdomen and white bands on thorax

Promachus giganteus

Identification: One of the largest North American robber flies; quite common in NM and w. TX throughout June and sometimes as late as August. Sufficient rainfall is required to support a large population. Their prey includes large grasshoppers, cicad

Promachus nigrialbus

Identification: how to separate this species from P. giganteus : click

Promachus vertebratus

Identification: Green eyes, sometimes with some red.

Scleropogon floridensis

Identification: Posterior cell 1/cell R5 of wings open at margin; wings brownish; posterior cell 4/cell CuA1 closed and shortly petiolate or at most narrowly open; fore femora ventrally with 6-8 bristles; mesonotum blackish, humeri reddish; femora bl

Sintoria emeralda

Identification: Wings light brown, abdomen bluish green.

Stenopogon californiae

Identification: Extremely variable; male genitalia critical for ID

Three-banded Robber Fly

Stichopogon trifasciatus

Identification: body slender and relatively hairless; thorax and legs light bluish-gray; abdomen with 3 bands of alternating light and dark color (a distinguishing feature among congeners)

Tipulogaster glabrata

Identification: the shellacked look of the thoracic dorsum distinctive among thin Leptogaster ( Herschel Raney )

Triorla interrupta

Identification: Large, gray, abdominal pattern of dark dashes on segments is distinctive, at least in e. US. Ovipositor long, somewhat rounded at tip, not pointed.

Wyliea mydas

This species was originally described (in German) as Asilus mydas by Brauer in 1885. Figures 1 and 1a showing habitus and wing venation appear at the end of the paper here . In 1975 C. H. Martin gave his description of the new genus Wyliea and made t