Spider-wasp-mimicking Robber Fly - ? Apothechyla sp.
Family Asilidae
This page contains pictures and information about Spider-wasp-mimicking Robber Flies
that we found
in the Brisbane area, Queensland, Australia.
- Body length 20mm
- This Robber fly has a black body, very long legs and golden wings. Its colour pattern mimics the Spider Wasp.
- It was resting on a large tree trunk in Karawatha Forest during early summer 2006.
- When we came close, it opened it wings, bend its abdomen , making the stinging action and show its yellow bands on its abdomen, tried very hard to convince us that it was a real Spider wasp.
- We had been fooled once, but not this time.
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- We found the robber fly second time in Carbrook Wetland, Oct 2009.
- Reference:
- 1. Family ASILIDAE Robber Flies - Australian Biological Resources Study, Australian Faunal Directory.
- 2. Australian Asilidae - Dr. Robert Lavigne, Honorary Research Associate, South Australian Museum, Adelaide, SA.
