Asilidae
Guides
Holopogon umbrinus
Holopogon umbrinus is a species of robber fly (family Asilidae) described by Back in 1909. It is classified within the subfamily Brachyrhopalinae and the genus Holopogon, which comprises small to medium-sized predatory flies. The species epithet 'umbrinus' (meaning 'shadowy' or 'dusky' in Latin) likely refers to its coloration. Like other asilids, it is presumed to be an aerial predator of other insects, though specific natural history details remain poorly documented.
Itolia
Itolia is a small genus of robber flies (family Asilidae) containing five described species. The genus was established by Wilcox in 1936. Species within Itolia are distributed in North America, with records from the southwestern United States and Mexico. Like other asilids, members of this genus are predatory flies, though specific natural history details remain poorly documented.
Itolia timberlakei
Itolia timberlakei is a species of robber fly (Diptera: Asilidae) described by Wilcox in 1949. The genus Itolia is a small group within the diverse Asilidae family, which comprises predatory flies commonly known as robber flies or assassin flies. The species epithet 'timberlakei' honors the entomologist P.H. Timberlake, who made substantial contributions to the study of bees and wasps at the University of California, Riverside. No detailed biological studies of this species have been published.
Lampria bicolor
Lampria bicolor is a species of robber fly in the family Asilidae. It is found primarily in the eastern United States, east of the Rocky Mountains, with additional reports from South America. The species was first described by Wiedemann in 1828. Like other robber flies, it is a predatory insect, though specific details of its biology remain poorly documented.
Laphria
bumblebee-mimic robber flies
Laphria is a genus of robber flies (Asilidae) established by Meigen in 1803. Species in this genus are notable for their effective mimicry of bumble bees, with hairy bodies and coloration patterns that closely resemble Bombus species. They are predatory as adults, capturing other insects in flight. The genus is distributed across North America and parts of Europe, with records from Scandinavia and the eastern United States.
Laphria aeatus
Laphria aeatus is a species of robber fly in the family Asilidae, described by Walker in 1849. As a member of the genus Laphria, it belongs to a group known for effective bumble bee mimicry. The genus is characterized by thick antennae that distinguish it from similar mimetic genera such as Mallophora.
Laphria affinus
Bee-like Robber Fly
Laphria affinus is a medium-sized robber fly in the family Asilidae, notable as one of several North American species that exhibit effective bumble bee mimicry. The species shares the genus with other bee-mimicking Laphria, distinguished by their dense pile and robust body form that closely resembles Bombus species. These flies are predatory as adults, capturing other insects in flight.
Laphria aimatis
Laphria aimatis is a species of robber fly in the family Asilidae, described by McAtee in 1919. The genus Laphria includes species known for their effective mimicry of bumble bees (Bombus), with which they share similar coloration and hairiness. These flies are predatory as adults and are often observed perching on vegetation while hunting for prey. The specific epithet 'aimatis' appears to be derived from Greek, though its precise meaning in this context is not documented in available sources.
Laphria aktis
Laphria aktis is a species of robber fly in the family Asilidae, first described by McAtee in 1919. The genus Laphria includes species known for effective bumble bee mimicry, though specific documentation for L. aktis is limited. Observations of this species are sparse, with only 22 records documented in iNaturalist as of the available data.
Laphria apila
Laphria apila is a species of robber fly in the family Asilidae. It belongs to the genus Laphria, a group known for effective bumble bee mimicry. The species was described by Bromley in 1951. Like other robber flies, it is a predatory insect that captures prey in flight.
Laphria astur
Laphria astur is a species of robber fly in the family Asilidae, genus Laphria. Members of this genus are notable for their convincing mimicry of bumble bees and carpenter bees, which provides protection from predators and facilitates ambush predation on unsuspecting prey. Like other Laphria species, L. astur likely employs this mimicry to approach small flying beetles and other insects that would otherwise flee from an obvious predator. The genus name derives from Greek mythology, though specific etymology for the epithet 'astur' is not documented in available sources.
Laphria asturina
Laphria asturina is a species of robber fly (family Asilidae), a group of predatory dipterans known for their aggressive hunting behavior. The species was originally described as Bombomima asturina before being transferred to Laphria. Like other members of the genus Laphria, it is likely a bumble bee mimic, though specific documentation of this trait for L. asturina is limited. Robber flies in this genus are notable for their convincing mimicry of hymenopterans, which may provide protection from predators.
Laphria canis
Laphria canis is a species of robber fly in the family Asilidae, a group of predatory flies known for their aggressive hunting behavior. The genus Laphria is notable for species that are effective mimics of bumble bees, a trait that provides protection from predators and aids in ambushing prey. As with other robber flies, L. canis is presumed to be an aerial predator that captures other insects in flight. Specific details about this species remain limited in the available literature.
Laphria carbonaria
Laphria champlainii
Laphria champlainii is a species of robber fly in the family Asilidae. It belongs to the genus Laphria, which includes several bumble bee-mimicking species known for their effective Batesian mimicry. The species was described by Walton in 1910. Like other Laphria species, it is presumed to be an active aerial predator, though specific behavioral and ecological details remain poorly documented.
Laphria cinerea
Laphria cinerea is a species of robber fly in the family Asilidae. Members of the genus Laphria are known for their effective mimicry of bumble bees. The species was described by Back in 1904. As with other asilids, it is presumed to be an active aerial predator, though specific behavioral observations for this species are limited.
Laphria columbica
Columbian Bee Killer
Laphria columbica is a species of robber fly in the family Asilidae, described by Francis Walker in 1866. The genus Laphria is notable for species that are effective mimics of bumble bees, and L. columbica appears to follow this pattern. Robber flies in this genus are predatory and often observed perching on vegetation while hunting. The specific epithet "columbica" suggests a connection to the Columbia River region or British Columbia, though the exact etymology is not documented in available sources.
Laphria coquillettii
Coquillett's Bee Killer
A robber fly in the family Asilidae, Laphria coquillettii is a bumble bee mimic that occurs in North America. Like other members of its genus, it exhibits Batesian mimicry of bumble bees (Bombus spp.), gaining protection from predators while also using its bee-like appearance to approach prey. The species was described by McAtee in 1919.
Laphria divisor
Black-waisted Laphria
Laphria divisor is a species of robber fly in the family Asilidae, commonly known as the Black-waisted Laphria. The genus Laphria includes species known for effective bumble bee mimicry, with hairy bodies and thick antennae distinguishing them from similar genera. As a member of the Asilidae, this species is a predatory fly that likely hunts other insects. The specific epithet 'divisor' was established by Nathan Banks in 1917.
Laphria engelhardti
Laphria engelhardti is a species of robber fly in the family Asilidae. The genus Laphria is known for effective bumble bee mimicry, with species exhibiting hairy bodies and thick antennae that distinguish them from similar genera. This species was described by Bromley in 1931.
Laphria felis
Laphria felis is a species of robber fly in the family Asilidae, found in western North America. It belongs to a genus known for effective bumble bee 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 predator. The species was described by Osten Sacken in 1877.
Laphria fernaldi
Laphria fernaldi is a species of robber fly in the family Asilidae. The genus Laphria is known for effective bumble bee mimicry, with members resembling bees in both appearance and behavior to deceive predators and prey. This species was originally described as Dasyllis fernaldi by Back in 1904 before being transferred to Laphria. Like other robber flies, it is a predatory insect that captures other arthropods in flight.
Laphria ferox
Laphria ferox is a species of robber fly in the family Asilidae. It belongs to the genus Laphria, a group commonly known as 'bee-like robber flies' due to their resemblance to bumble bees. The species was described by Samuel Wendell Williston in 1883. As with other robber flies, it is presumed to be a predatory insect, though specific behavioral and ecological details for this species remain poorly documented.
Laphria franciscana
Laphria franciscana is a species of robber fly in the family Asilidae. It occurs in northeastern North America, with records from southern Ontario, Manitoba, Quebec, Nova Scotia, and Maine, extending southward to Texas and Florida. The species belongs to a genus noted for effective bumble bee mimicry.
Laphria grossa
giant laphria
Laphria grossa, commonly known as the giant laphria, is a species of robber fly in the family Asilidae. It belongs to a genus noted for effective bumble bee mimicry, with species in this group recognized as among the most realistic mimics of bumble bees. The species was originally described by Fabricius in 1775 under the basionym Asilus grossus.
Laphria huron
Huron Laphria
Laphria huron is a species of robber fly (family Asilidae) described by Bromley in 1929. As a member of the genus Laphria, it belongs to a group known for effective bumble bee mimicry, with several species exhibiting dense yellow and black setation that closely resembles Bombus species. Robber flies in this genus are predatory as adults and are often found in open habitats where they perch on vegetation to hunt passing insects. The specific epithet 'huron' likely references the Great Lakes region or Lake Huron, though the precise type locality and detailed natural history of this species remain poorly documented in available sources.
Laphria index
Laphria index is a species of robber fly in the family Asilidae, described by McAtee in 1919. The genus Laphria contains species known for effective bumble bee mimicry, though specific details for L. index remain limited in published literature. The species has been recorded in the northeastern United States.
Laphria insignis
Remarkable Laphria
Laphria insignis is a species of robber fly in the family Asilidae, commonly known as the Remarkable Laphria. The species was originally described as Dasyllis insignis by Banks in 1917. Like other members of the genus Laphria, it is likely a bumble bee mimic, a trait common among species in this genus. As a robber fly, it is an aerial predator that captures other insects in flight.
Laphria ithypyga
Southern Arrowhead Laphria
Laphria ithypyga is a species of robber fly (family Asilidae) found in the United States. It is commonly known as the Southern Arrowhead Laphria. As a member of the genus Laphria, it is part of a group known for effective bumble bee mimicry, though specific morphological details for this species are not well documented in available sources.
Laphria janus
Orange-tailed Laphria
Laphria janus is a species of robber fly in the family Asilidae, described by McAtee in 1919. The species is recognized by its common name "Orange-tailed Laphria," referring to a distinctive coloration feature. Like other members of the genus Laphria, it exhibits bumble bee mimicry as a defensive adaptation. The species has been documented in the northeastern United States, particularly Vermont.
Laphria macquarti
Laphria macquarti is a species of robber fly in the family Asilidae. The genus Laphria is known for species that are effective mimics of bumble bees, with several species in this genus exhibiting this form of protective resemblance. Laphria species are generally characterized by their stout, hairy bodies and predatory habits typical of robber flies.
Laphria royalensis
A species of robber fly in the genus Laphria, known for effective bumble bee mimicry. As with other Laphria species, this taxon exhibits Batesian mimicry of bumble bees, with a hairy body and thick antennae distinguishing it from similar mimics in the genus Mallophora. The species belongs to a group of predatory flies that hunt other insects in flight.
Laphria sackeni
Laphria sackeni is a species of robber fly (family Asilidae) in the genus Laphria. Species in this genus are notable for their effective mimicry of bumble bees (Bombus spp.), a trait that distinguishes them from many other asilid genera. The genus Laphria is characterized by thick antennae, which helps distinguish it from superficially similar genera such as Mallophora. As with other robber flies, L. sackeni is presumably a predatory species, though specific details of its biology remain poorly documented.
Laphria sacrator
Bee-mimic robberfly, Yellow-waisted Laphria
Laphria sacrator is a robber fly in the family Asilidae, commonly known as the Bee-mimic robberfly or Yellow-waisted Laphria. The species exhibits bumble bee mimicry, with yellow hairs on the mystax, thorax, and portions of the abdomen. It belongs to a genus renowned for producing highly convincing bee mimics that deceive both predators and prey.
Laphria sadales
Red-legged Laphria
Laphria sadales is a species of robber fly in the family Asilidae, commonly known as the Red-legged Laphria. It belongs to a genus noted for effective bumble bee mimicry, with several species resembling bees in appearance and behavior. The species has been documented in the northeastern United States, including Vermont. Like other robber flies, it is presumed to be an aerial predator, though specific behavioral and ecological details for this species remain poorly documented.
Laphria scorpio
Scorpion Laphria
A species of robber fly in the family Asilidae, described by McAtee in 1919. Little is documented about this specific species beyond its taxonomic placement. The genus Laphria includes species known for effective mimicry of bumble bees and other hymenopterans.
Laphria semitecta
Laphria semitecta is a species of robber fly in the family Asilidae, described by Coquillett in 1910. It belongs to the genus Laphria, a group known for effective bumble bee mimicry. The species is part of the diverse North American robber fly fauna, though specific documentation of this species in the provided sources is limited. Robber flies in this genus are predatory and often visually striking due to their mimicry adaptations.
Laphria sericea
Laphria sericea is a species of robber fly in the family Asilidae. It is part of a species complex within the genus Laphria, which includes several bumble bee-mimicking species. The species is known from the eastern United States, with records from Vermont and other states.
Laphria trux
Laphria trux is a species of robber fly in the family Asilidae, described by McAtee in 1919. As a member of the genus Laphria, it belongs to a group known for effective bumble bee mimicry. Robber flies in this family are predatory insects that capture other insects in flight. Specific ecological details for this species remain poorly documented in available sources.
Laphria ventralis
Laphria ventralis is a species of robber fly in the family Asilidae, first described by Williston in 1885. The genus Laphria contains species known for their effective mimicry of bumble bees, though specific details about L. ventralis itself remain sparse in the literature. As with other robber flies, it is presumed to be an aerial predator. The species has been documented in at least 23 observations on iNaturalist, indicating it is encountered with some regularity by naturalists, though published biological studies appear limited.
Laphria virginica
Laphria virginica is a species of robber fly in the genus Laphria, commonly known as the 'bee-like robber flies' for their resemblance to bumble bees. The species was described by Banks in 1917. Like other members of the genus, it exhibits mimicry of Hymenoptera, which may serve as a defensive adaptation against predators.
Laphria vivax
Laphria vivax is a species of robber fly (Asilidae) described by Williston in 1883. As a member of the genus Laphria, it belongs to a group known for effective bumble bee mimicry, though specific details distinguishing L. vivax from congeners are limited in available sources. The species is accepted in current taxonomy but appears to be less documented than some other Laphria species.
Laphriinae
robber flies
Laphriinae is a subfamily of robber flies (family Asilidae) containing over 110 genera and 1,000 described species. Adults are predatory, with many species exhibiting mimicry of bees and wasps. The subfamily is notable for its larval ecology: all species have larvae that prey on wood-boring beetle larvae, primarily in families Buprestidae and Cerambycidae. Some species have specialized host relationships, such as Hyperechia larvae developing within cells of Xylocopa carpenter bees.
Laphystia canadensis
Laphystia canadensis is a species of robber fly in the family Asilidae, described by Curran in 1927. As a member of this predatory fly family, it likely exhibits the characteristic hunting behavior of asilids, ambushing prey from a perch. The species epithet 'canadensis' indicates a North American distribution, though specific details about its biology and ecology remain poorly documented in the available literature.
Laphystia confusa
Laphystia confusa is a species of robber fly in the family Asilidae, described by Curran in 1927. As a member of this predatory fly family, it belongs to a group known for aerial hunting behavior and distinctive physical adaptations for capturing prey. The species is accepted in current taxonomy and is classified within the genus Laphystia.
Laphystia howlandi
Laphystia howlandi is a species of robber fly in the family Asilidae, described by Wilcox in 1960. It belongs to the genus Laphystia, a group of predatory flies characterized by their stout bodies and strong flying ability. The species is part of the diverse asilid fauna of North America. Like other robber flies, it is presumed to be an active aerial predator of other insects.
Laphystia jamesi
Laphystia jamesi is a species of robber fly in the family Asilidae, first described by Wilcox in 1960. It belongs to the genus Laphystia, a group of predatory flies within the order Diptera. As with other Asilidae, this species is presumed to be an aerial predator of other insects, though specific ecological details remain undocumented in available sources.
Laphystia laguna
A species of robber fly (family Asilidae) described by Wilcox in 1960. The specific epithet "laguna" suggests a potential association with lake or wetland habitats, though direct ecological observations remain limited. As with other Asilidae, it is predatory as an adult. Available occurrence records are sparse, with only four observations documented in iNaturalist.
Laphystia lanhami
Laphystia lanhami is a species of robber fly (family Asilidae) described by James in 1941. The genus Laphystia contains predatory flies that hunt other insects in flight. Like other Asilidae, this species likely exhibits the characteristic predatory behavior of the family, though specific natural history details for this particular species remain poorly documented in available literature.
Laphystia litoralis
Beach Robber Fly
Laphystia litoralis is a species of robber fly in the family Asilidae, commonly known as the Beach Robber Fly. It was described by Curran in 1931. As a member of the Asilidae family, it is a predatory dipteran that captures other insects in flight. The species epithet 'litoralis' suggests an association with coastal or shore habitats.