The Asilidae genus Laphria contains
some very convincing bumblebee mimics. As true flies, these robbers only
have one set of flying wings. The second set present in all other
insects, has evolved in the flies into small ball-like organs called
halteres (visible as the whitish ball just under the base of the wing).
Their function has not been fully explained, but it is thought they
provide kinesthetic (balance and body postion) information during
flight.
There are over 7,000 species of robber flies world wide;
nearly 1,000 in North America. All robber flies have stout, spiny
legs, a dense moustache of bristles on the face (mystax), and 3 simple
eyes (ocelli) in a characteristic depression between their two large
compound eyes. The mystax helps protect the head and face when the fly
encounters prey bent on defense. The antennae are short, 3-segmented,
sometimes with a bristle-like structure called an arista. The short,
strong proboscis is used to stab and inject victims with saliva
containing neurotoxic and proteolytic enzymes which paralyze and digest
the insides; the fly then sucks the liquefied meal much like we vacuum
up an ice cream soda through a straw. Many species have long, tapering
abdomens, sometimes with a sword-like ovipositor. Others are fat-bodied
bumble bee mimics; the effect is quite convincing. Take a close look at
any insect that looks like a bumble bee if it's sitting on a leaf -
chances are, it's a robber fly. (Bumble bees as a rule do not sit in one
spot for more than a few seconds). |
