Red Robber Fly - Colepia rufiventris
Family Asilidae
This page contains pictures and information about Red Robber Flies that we found
in the Brisbane area, Queensland, Australia.
- Body length 25mm, female
- The Robber Fly is reddish in colour. All legs are reddish brown with hind
tibia in yellow. On the mid
tarsus long anterior bristles near apex of each segment are absent, giving
tarsus an asymmetrical bristle arrangement.
- Female
- This Red Robber Fly is common in Brisbane bushlands.
- Male
- Robber Flies in the above pictures show the fly captured a Weevil Beetle. As usual, the Robber Fly attacked from the back side of the prey.
- This is a large size Robber Fly.
- Female
- The Robber Fly in above pictures seem laying eggs on rotten tree trunk. Not much is known about the larval habitats.
- In general, female robber flies deposit creamy colour eggs on plants or in gaps within soil, bark, or wood. Most species lay eggs in masses and are covered with protective coating. Robber fly larvae live in the soil or in rotting wood. Larvae are either predatory or parasitic, they feed on eggs, larvae and other soft-bodied insects.
- 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. Asilini - Australian Asilidae - Dr. Robert Lavigne, Honorary Research Associate, South Australian Museum, Adelaide, SA.
- 3. Family ASILIDAE Robber Flies - Australian Biological Resources Study, Australian Faunal Directory.
