Reddish Robber Fly - Zosteria rubens
Family Asilidae
This page contains pictures and information about Reddish Robber Flies that we found
in the Brisbane area, Queensland, Australia.
- Body length 25mm, male
- This robber fly is orange-brown in colour with black eyes. There are black
stripes on thorax. The antennae are
also black in colour. Abdomen and all legs are orange-brown.
- The robber fly in the pictures has captured a Crane Fly. Pictures were taken in Karawatha Forest in mid summer.
- The Robber Flies are air hunter. They also known as an Assassin Fly and Bee Killer. They have piercing mouth-parts and strong legs which can catch prey on flight. They are medium to large size flies with large eyes and necked head. They are active predators on flying insects, unselective in prey species.
- Robber Flies in the above pictures show the fly captured a Cockroach. As usual, the Robber Fly attacked from the back side of the prey. Their mouthparts are the triangular proboscis which insert into prey and suck the juice. Robber flies prefer sunlit area to capture their prey.
- 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.
