Robber Fly – Laphria canis
Family Asilidae – Robber Flies
Live adult robber flies photographed in the wild at various North American locations.
This robber fly is sucking the bodily fluids from a freshly caught braconid wasp. If you look closely, you can see the proboscis inserted into the head of the wasp.
Courtship behavior consists of the male glomming onto the female as if she were prey. Copulation is accomplished tail-to-tail, with the genitalia interlocked. The duo has no trouble flying around in this condition; the male generally towing the female backwards.
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.
Flies Main | Flies Index | Bee Flies | Robber Flies
Tree Encyclopedia / North American Insects & Spiders
Online since 2002
