Subfamily Phellinae - Giant Robber Flies

Family Asilidae

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



This is a small subfamily with giant species. Robber Flies in this group are characterized by the possession of a spur vein, directed backward in the first submarginal cell from near the base of the anterior branch of the third vein. They have the wing vein R2+3 open, ending on the wing margin. They have robust and tapering abdomen. Their long wings are broad at the base and tapering gradually to apex. They unusually have wide head and face.


Giant Robber fly pupa empty case


Giant Robber Fly

Phellus olgae, body length 45mm, female, male
This is one of the largest fly species with wing-spans up to 75mm. We saw this fly the first time in Daisy Hill Forest during later summer. It was resting on a large tree trunk. We noticed the fly by its large compound eyes and golden hairs on its face. It flied fast in short distance with loud buzzing sound. Please check this page for more information.

Reference:
1. Insects of Australia, CSIRO, Division of Entomology, Melbourne University Press, 2nd Edition 1991, p 758.
2. Insects of Australia and New Zealand - R. J. Tillyard, Angus & Robertson, Ltd, Sydney, 1926, p362.
3. Family ASILIDAE Robber Flies - Australian Biological Resources Study, Australian Faunal Directory.
4. Australian Asilidae - Dr. Robert Lavigne, Honorary Research Associate, South Australian Museum, Adelaide, SA.
5. Robber flies of the world. The genera of the family Asilidae - Hull, F.M. 1962, U. S. National Museum Bulletin 224. (Pts. 1 & 2). U. S. Govt. Printing Office.
6. A phylogenetic hypothesis for Asilidae based on a total evidence analysis of morphological and DNA sequence data (Insecta: Diptera: Brachycera: Asilidae) - Dikow, T. 2009, Organisms, Diversity & Evolution 9: 165–188.
7. Phylogeny of Asilidae inferred from morphological characters of imagines (Insecta: Diptera: Brachycera: Asiloidea) - Dikow, T. 2009, Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 319: 1-175 [Date published 17 March 2009]