Ashy Laphria
Laphria cinerea
This record describes Laphria cinerea (species). Recorded family: Asilidae. Recorded order: Diptera.
Identification and Appearance
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 cinerea is found of sitting on pine trunks, or on pine logs on the ground. It is generally quite wary, and usually doesn't stay in one perch for very long.
Classification
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Pine forests. Recorded using pitch pine ( Pinus rigida ), shortleaf pine ( P. echinata ) and other hard pines .
Geographic Range
e. US (NH-FL-MS-AR)
Seasonal Activity
Mar-May in NC ( 3 )
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Adults are perch hunters, flying up to capture flying insect prey.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Laphria cinerea (Back 1904) Ashy Laphria: https://www.robberfliesoftheworld.com/NA_CommonNames.php
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Diptera, the group containing Laphria cinerea. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Diptera includes over 150,000 described species of flies, mosquitoes, and midges. Mosquitoes are the deadliest animal on Earth (CDC). Malaria alone causes ~249 million cases and over 608,000 deaths annually, mostly children under 5 (WHO). Vector-borne diseases account for over 17% of all infectious diseases, causing 700,000+ deaths per year.
Ecological role of the group
Despite their disease impact, flies are critical decomposers and pollinators. Hoverflies alone pollinate hundreds of crop and wildflower species. Flies are also the primary food source for many birds, bats, and fish. Forensic entomology relies heavily on fly species for crime scene analysis.
Economic and practical significance of the group
In the U.S., vector-borne disease cases tripled between 2004-2016, with over 640,000 cases reported in that period (CDC). Tickborne diseases doubled from 22,000 to 48,000 annual reports. Globally, mosquito-borne diseases cost billions in healthcare and lost productivity.
Recorded sources for this group: WHO, CDC, PNAS. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Ashy Laphria (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Cotinis; Additional contributions by john and jane balaban , Ben Coulter , v belov , Chris Cohen
Frequently Asked Questions About Ashy Laphria
What is Ashy Laphria?
Ashy Laphria (Laphria cinerea) is a species in the family Asilidae, within the order Diptera.
How big is Ashy Laphria?
10-16 mm
How do you identify Ashy Laphria?
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.
Where is Ashy Laphria found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Pine forests. Recorded using pitch pine ( Pinus rigida ), shortleaf pine ( P. echinata ) and other hard pines . |
| Range | e. US (NH-FL-MS-AR) |
What does Ashy Laphria eat?
The diet of the Ashy Laphria includes Adults are perch hunters, flying up to capture flying insect prey..
When is Ashy Laphria active?
Ashy Laphria: seasonal activity - Mar-May in NC ( 3 ).