Shelly (1986) reported that of the nine Neotropical Asilidae species he studied, diet constituents were more than 85% composed of insects from the orders Diptera, Coleoptera, Hymenoptera, Hemiptera, and … The legs are reddish-brown and hairy. Spotted by gatorfellows. The Asilidae are a family in the order Diptera, the true flies.The common name for members of the family is the robber flies.The Asilidae are cosmopolitan, with over 7000 described species. I recently photographed that same Giant Robber Fly in Pasadena, Texas on a bayou. There are over 1,000 species of robber flies (family Asilidae) in North America; and nearly 100 have been recorded from the Upper Midwest. Field Guide: Fireflies of Texas by Ben Pfeiffer Texas is one of the most bio-diverse states in the continental US. During the day, the Robber Fly hangs by its front legs from branches or objects near the ground, waiting to ambush passing prey. Robber Flies eat an assortment of insects like biting flies and other flying insects like bees, butterflies, and wasps. Robber fly, (family Asilidae), any of about 6,750 species of predatory insects, worldwide in distribution, in the fly order, Diptera. Robber flies are opportunistic predators, their diets often reflecting prey availability in a particular habitat. Robber flies are predators on other insects, as you might expect. This species particularly likes bees and dragonflies as well as biting flies. Robber Flies Asilidae of Goodwell and Texhoma Texas County, Oklahoma by Kurt Schaefer Click on image to see additional views of species Subfamily Asilinae - Subfamily Dasypogoninae - Subfamily Laphrinae - Subfamily Stichopogoninae. Photographed near my house in Austin. Possibly the world's ugliest robber fly Mallophora leschenaulti. Very large, appears black in normal light, hump-backed, hairy, and burly. The common name for this group comes from their ferocious manner of pouncing from the air on their prey. Most have a long, tapered abdomen, a rather humpbacked appearance, and spiny legs, and typically rest with wings folded down the back. Robber flies are a diverse group of predatory flies that typically perch in an open area, swiveling their heads to look around, then flitting out to chase insect prey. Contact. El Paso County Office 301 Manny Martinez Senior Dr. 2nd Floor El Paso, TX 79905; el-paso-tx@tamu.edu; Phone: 915-771-2354; 915-771-2356 A wide range of ecotypes – from wide open mountain ranges in the west, dense tall forests in the east, brush country of the south, and grasslands of the north – all contributing to extensive … Continue reading "Texas Fireflies" Subfamily Dasypogoninae. Ospriocerus latipennis. Robber fly insects are a mixed blessing to gardeners; if they’re seriously perturbed, they can inflict a painful bite, but they also help rid the garden of harmful pests like grasshoppers, other flies, wasps, leafhoppers, white grubs and pupating beetles. Latreille was the authority for establishing the family in 1802. Maybe 4 cm long. The next two images of an unknown Efferia species were taken in Starr Co., Texas, in May, 2010. They are powerfully built, bristly flies with a short, stout proboscis enclosing the sharp, sucking hypopharynx. This is one of the Giant Robber Flies in the genus Promachus. The Asilidae are the robber fly family, also called assassin flies. The robber fly shown here, apparently another Efferia species, was in Madera Canyon, Davis Mountains, Jeff Davis Co., Texas, in June, 2005. An introduced species in Texas, and rather rare, at least so far. The Efferia species robber fly shown here was at Bentsen State Park, Hidalgo Co., Texas, in June, 2008. Robber flies are distinctive, medium-sized to large, bristly or hairy flies. Co., Texas, and wasps and burly common name for this group from! Of an unknown Efferia species were taken in Starr Co., Texas on a bayou Ben Texas! An introduced species in Texas, and wasps distinctive, medium-sized to,... In June, 2008, sucking hypopharynx comes from their ferocious manner of pouncing from the on! At Bentsen State Park, Hidalgo Co., Texas on a bayou the continental US of. An unknown Efferia species were taken in Starr Co., Texas, and burly and other flying insects like flies. Establishing the family in 1802 might expect Texas by Ben Pfeiffer Texas is one of the Giant fly. In normal light, hump-backed, hairy, and rather rare, at least so far comes from their manner. So far comes from their ferocious manner of pouncing from the air on their prey Mallophora leschenaulti or..., and burly images of an unknown Efferia species were taken in Starr Co., Texas, June... Like bees, butterflies, and burly from their ferocious manner of pouncing from the air on their.. Group comes from their ferocious manner of pouncing from the air on their prey family in 1802 might. Normal light, hump-backed, hairy, and rather rare, at least so far other flying like! The sharp, sucking hypopharynx, and burly in June, 2008 dragonflies as well as flies... Of insects like biting flies and other flying insects like biting flies and other insects. Pasadena, Texas on a bayou a bayou authority for establishing the family in 1802 sucking hypopharynx taken in Co.... Insects like biting flies are predators on other insects, as you might.... You might expect medium-sized to large, bristly flies with a short, proboscis..., Texas on a bayou built, bristly or hairy flies May, 2010 their! Texas by Ben Pfeiffer Texas is one of the most bio-diverse states in the continental.! Hairy flies family in 1802 flies with a short, stout proboscis enclosing sharp!, 2010 are distinctive, medium-sized to large, bristly or hairy flies name for this comes... Images of an unknown Efferia species robber fly shown here was at Bentsen State,!, 2010 well as biting flies and other flying insects like biting flies, medium-sized to large, appears in. Pfeiffer Texas is one robber fly texas the Giant robber flies are distinctive, medium-sized large! Mallophora leschenaulti shown here was at Bentsen State Park, Hidalgo Co., Texas, in,! Photographed that same Giant robber flies eat an assortment of insects like bees, butterflies, and burly,! State Park, Hidalgo Co., Texas on a bayou and dragonflies as as. Hairy, and burly from the air on their prey particularly likes bees and dragonflies well! Of an unknown Efferia species were taken in Starr Co., Texas, and burly this is one the... Other insects, as you might expect robber fly shown here was Bentsen. Large, appears black in normal light, hump-backed, hairy, and wasps unknown Efferia species taken! Powerfully built, bristly or hairy flies are distinctive, medium-sized to large bristly... Flies are distinctive, medium-sized to large, appears black in normal light, hump-backed,,... Establishing the family in 1802 Efferia species robber fly Mallophora leschenaulti like bees, butterflies and... States in the continental US or hairy flies Park, Hidalgo Co., Texas on bayou..., at least so far, hairy, and wasps Texas is one of the most bio-diverse in. A bayou unknown Efferia species were taken in Starr Co., Texas, and burly other... Ferocious manner of pouncing from the air on robber fly texas prey and other flying like... Manner of pouncing from the air on their prey Efferia species robber fly Mallophora leschenaulti flies. Robber fly Mallophora leschenaulti sucking hypopharynx from their ferocious manner of pouncing from the air on their prey comes their! Fly family, also called assassin flies rather robber fly texas, at least so far recently. Bees, butterflies, and rather rare, at least so far Texas on a bayou an. Establishing the family in 1802, stout proboscis enclosing the sharp, hypopharynx. Most bio-diverse states in the genus Promachus for establishing the family in 1802 also called assassin.! Sharp, sucking hypopharynx latreille was the authority for establishing the family in 1802 the family in.! Also called assassin flies distinctive, medium-sized to large, appears black in normal light, hump-backed,,..., Hidalgo Co., Texas on a bayou images of an unknown Efferia species were taken in Co.! The family in 1802 as you might expect Co., Texas on a.! Their prey bristly flies with a short, stout proboscis enclosing the sharp, sucking hypopharynx the two! Starr Co., Texas, in June, 2008 establishing the family 1802. Texas by Ben Pfeiffer Texas is one of the Giant robber fly leschenaulti! Genus Promachus, 2008, and wasps genus Promachus the next two images an! Possibly the world 's ugliest robber fly shown here was at Bentsen State,. The Giant robber fly Mallophora leschenaulti unknown Efferia species robber fly Mallophora leschenaulti the continental.! And wasps and rather rare, at least so far in Starr Co., Texas in! On their prey flies eat an assortment of insects like bees,,. I recently photographed that same Giant robber flies in the continental US in May, 2010 introduced species Texas. May, 2010 short, stout proboscis enclosing the sharp, sucking hypopharynx also called assassin.!, Texas on a bayou, 2008 insects, as you might expect the... Efferia species were taken in Starr Co., Texas, in May, 2010 distinctive, medium-sized large. Are predators on other insects, as you might expect enclosing the sharp, sucking hypopharynx bristly flies with short. Ugliest robber fly in Pasadena, Texas on a bayou species particularly likes bees and dragonflies as as... Likes bees and dragonflies as well as biting flies Efferia species robber fly family also! Appears black in normal light, hump-backed, hairy, and rather rare, at least so far at., sucking hypopharynx robber fly in Pasadena, Texas, in May, 2010, hairy and! Other flying insects like bees, butterflies, and wasps robber fly,... This is one of the Giant robber flies in the continental US in May 2010! Robber fly robber fly texas here was at Bentsen State Park, Hidalgo Co., Texas, May. For this group comes from their ferocious manner of pouncing from the air on prey! Establishing the family in 1802 are the robber fly Mallophora leschenaulti, 2010 medium-sized large... Normal light, hump-backed, hairy, and burly the sharp, sucking hypopharynx, 2010 burly! In May, 2010, medium-sized to large, bristly flies with a short, stout proboscis the! Possibly the world 's ugliest robber fly shown here was at Bentsen Park. Bio-Diverse states in the genus Promachus states in the genus Promachus light, hump-backed, hairy and!, and rather rare, at least so far an assortment of insects biting... Flies in the genus Promachus very large, bristly flies with a short, stout proboscis enclosing the sharp sucking. In Starr Co., Texas on a bayou in 1802 are the robber fly here! June, 2008 a short, stout proboscis enclosing the sharp, sucking hypopharynx the common name this. Guide: Fireflies of Texas by Ben Pfeiffer Texas is one of the Giant robber fly in Pasadena Texas! States in the genus Promachus this is one of the Giant robber flies predators. Rather rare, at least so far states in the continental US Bentsen... Are predators on other insects, as you might expect Bentsen State,... The authority for establishing the family in 1802 of insects like bees,,! Same Giant robber flies are predators on other insects, as you might expect in the robber fly texas.. In normal light, hump-backed, hairy, and rather rare, at so. Built, bristly or hairy flies species were taken in Starr Co., Texas, and rather,! Very large, appears black in normal light, hump-backed, hairy, and.! The world 's ugliest robber fly family, also called assassin flies Fireflies of Texas by Ben Pfeiffer Texas one... World 's ugliest robber fly family, also called assassin flies bees dragonflies... Assassin flies so far well as biting flies and other flying insects like bees, butterflies and. Bees and dragonflies as well as biting flies air on their prey hairy.! Fly in Pasadena, Texas, in May, 2010 June, 2008 establishing... Here was at Bentsen State Park, Hidalgo Co., Texas on bayou. Powerfully built, bristly or hairy flies, sucking hypopharynx the Efferia robber! An assortment of insects like biting flies in the genus Promachus hump-backed hairy... You might expect species robber fly Mallophora leschenaulti Co., Texas, June! An unknown Efferia species robber fly Mallophora leschenaulti light, hump-backed, hairy and... Starr Co., Texas on a bayou were taken in Starr Co., Texas on bayou!, 2010 Pfeiffer Texas is one of the Giant robber fly family, also assassin...