Robber Fly - Dioctria hyalipennis

Robber Fly - Dioctria hyalipennis
Family Asilidae (Robber Flies)
Live adult robber flies photographed in the wild at Winfield, Illinois, USA. Size: 10mm
This is a common European species first found in this country at Boston, Massachusetts, in 1916 by C. W. Johnson.

Robber fly with Ichneumon wasp prey

These are rather small as robber flies go: 10mm (about 3/8"). Adult robber flies attack other flies, beetles, butterflies and moths, various bees, dragon and damselflies, ichneumon wasps, grasshoppers, and some spiders. This orange-abdomened female has managed to capture an ichneumon wasp, and is busy sucking out the liquified guts. What fun!

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Contact: Bruce Marlin