Laphria felis

(Osten Sacken, 1877)

Laphria felis is a of robber fly in the Asilidae, found in western North America. It belongs to a known for effective mimicry, with several species exhibiting dense hair patterns and coloration that closely resemble bumble bees. As with other robber flies, it is presumed to be an active aerial . The species was described by Osten Sacken in 1877.

Laphria felis by (c) Trevor Van Loon, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Trevor Van Loon. Used under a CC-BY license.Laphria felis by (c) Trevor Van Loon, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Trevor Van Loon. Used under a CC-BY license.Laphria felis by (c) Trevor Van Loon, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Trevor Van Loon. Used under a CC-BY license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Laphria felis: /ˈlæf.ri.ə ˈfɛl.ɪs/

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Identification

Members of the Laphria are distinguished from similar -mimicking robber flies in the genus Mallophora by their thick ; Mallophora have a thin terminal segment on the antennae. Laphria species also tend to be less hairy than Mallophora. Within Laphria, species-level identification requires examination of specific morphological characters not detailed in available sources.

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Distribution

Western North America.

Ecological Role

As a member of the Asilidae, likely functions as an aerial of other insects, contributing to of prey .

Similar Taxa

  • MallophoraBoth are effective mimics with similar overall appearance; distinguished by structure (Laphria has thick antennae, Mallophora has thin terminal antennal segment) and hair (Mallophora is hairier).
  • PromachusAnother of large robber flies; Laphria are generally more robust and exhibit mimicry not seen in Promachus.

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Sources and further reading