Common Brown Robber Fly - Zosteria rosevillensis

Family Asilidae

This page contains pictures and information about Common Brown Robber Flies that we found in the Brisbane area, Queensland, Australia.


Body length 25mm, female

This Common Brown Robber Fly is the most commonly seen Robber Fly in Brisbane bushlands. This is a dark species. The robber fly has black femora and tarsi. The tibiae is orange-brown with black apices.


Male

Notice its slender antennal style. The abdomen is greyish black when viewed dorsally, yellow-grey when viewed laterally.

Robust flies are with noticeable "beard" of setae around the face. It is believed that they serve as protection to their face from damage by their prey.



This robber fly is usually seen resting on stem or leaves, sometimes feeding on prey. The above pictures show the Robber Flies just captured a Honey Bee. Robber Flies are air hunter. They also known as an Assassin Fly and Bee Killer. They have strong legs which capture prey on flight.

Reference:
1. A revision of Neoaratus Ricardo, with the description of six allied new genera from the Australian region (Diptera : Asilidae : Asilini) - G Daniels, 1987.
2. Zosteria spec. - Wikimedia Commons.
3. Asilini - Australian Asilidae - Dr. Robert Lavigne, Honorary Research Associate, South Australian Museum, Adelaide, SA.
4. Family ASILIDAE Robber Flies - Australian Biological Resources Study, Australian Faunal Directory.