Predatory-fly
Guides
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 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 milvina
A species of robber fly in the genus Laphria, notable for its bumble bee mimicry. Members of this genus are recognized for their effective resemblance to bumble bees, a form of Batesian mimicry that may provide protection from predators. The species was described by Bromley in 1929. Like other Laphria species, it is presumed to be an active aerial predator of other insects.
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 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 sicula
Dagger Laphria
Laphria sicula is a species of robber fly in the family Asilidae, commonly known as the Dagger Laphria. The species was described by McAtee in 1919. Like other members of the genus Laphria, it is a predatory fly that exhibits bumble bee mimicry. It is part of a diverse genus of robber flies known for their effective mimicry of hymenopterans and their predatory habits.
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 winnemana
Laphria winnemana is a species of robber fly in the family Asilidae, described by McAtee in 1919. The genus Laphria is noted for species that are effective mimics of bumble bees (Bombus), a trait that distinguishes this group within the Asilidae. As a member of the robber flies, this species is presumed to be an active aerial predator. Specific ecological and behavioral details for L. winnemana remain poorly documented in published literature.
Laphystia
Laphystia is a genus of robber flies (family Asilidae) established by Loew in 1847. The genus contains at least 50 described species, with 56 species listed in current catalogs. Members are aerial predators within the order Diptera, though specific morphological and ecological traits distinguishing Laphystia from related asilid genera are not well documented in readily available sources.
Laphystia bromleyi
Laphystia bromleyi is a species of robber fly (family Asilidae) described by Wilcox in 1960. The genus Laphystia comprises small to medium-sized predatory flies distributed primarily in the New World. As a member of Asilidae, this species is presumed to be an aerial predator of other insects. Published records for this species are extremely limited, with minimal observational data available in public repositories.
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 martini
Laphystia martini is a species of robber fly (family Asilidae) described by Wilcox in 1960. Robber flies are predatory dipterans known for their aggressive hunting behavior and aerial capture of prey. The genus Laphystia is part of the diverse Asilidae family, which contains approximately 7,000 described species worldwide. Specific ecological and behavioral details for L. martini remain poorly documented in published literature.
Laphystia opaca
Laphystia opaca is a species of robber fly (family Asilidae) described by Coquillett in 1904. As a member of the Asilidae, it is a predatory fly that captures other insects in flight. The genus Laphystia belongs to the diverse assemblage of robber flies, though specific ecological details for this particular species remain poorly documented in available sources.
Laphystia rubra
Laphystia rubra is a species of robber fly (family Asilidae) described by Hull in 1957. As a member of the subfamily Laphriinae, it belongs to a group of predatory flies known for their robust build and aggressive hunting behavior. The specific epithet "rubra" (Latin for "red") suggests reddish coloration, though detailed species-level descriptions are limited in available sources. Robber flies in this genus are typically associated with woodland and forest edge habitats where they perch and ambush flying insect prey.
Laphystia sexfasciata
Laphystia sexfasciata is a species of robber fly in the family Asilidae, first described by Thomas Say in 1823. The genus Laphystia belongs to the diverse asilid fauna of North America. As with other robber flies, this species is a predatory insect that captures other arthropods in flight. The specific epithet 'sexfasciata' refers to six bands or fasciae, likely describing a pattern on the abdomen or thorax.
Laphystia sillersi
Laphystia sillersi is a species of robber fly (Diptera: Asilidae) described by Hull in 1963. The genus Laphystia comprises predatory flies distributed primarily in the Neotropical region. As with other Asilidae, this species is presumed to be an aerial predator of other insects. No specific biological studies of this species have been published.
Laphystia texensis
Laphystia texensis is a species of robber fly (Asilidae) described by Curran in 1931. The specific epithet 'texensis' indicates a connection to Texas, likely referring to the type locality or primary distribution. As a member of the Asilidae family, it belongs to a group of predatory flies known for their agile flight and ambush hunting behavior. The genus Laphystia includes several North American species, though detailed biological studies for many remain limited.
Laphystia tolandi
Laphystia tolandi is a species of robber fly in the family Asilidae, described by Wilcox in 1960. As a member of the genus Laphystia, it belongs to a group of predatory flies known for their aerial hunting behavior. The species is recognized in taxonomic databases but remains poorly documented in biological literature.
Laphystia torpida
Laphystia torpida is a species of robber fly in the family Asilidae, described by Hull in 1957. It belongs to the genus Laphystia, a group of predatory flies characterized by their robust build and hunting behavior. The species is part of the subfamily Laphriinae, which includes many medium to large-sized robber flies with distinctive morphological features. Very few specific details are documented for this particular species beyond its taxonomic placement.
Laphystia utahensis
Laphystia utahensis is a species of robber fly in the family Asilidae, described by Wilcox in 1960. The genus Laphystia belongs to the diverse asilid fauna of North America, with this species distinguished by its specific epithet referencing the state of Utah. Robber flies in this genus are predatory insects that capture other arthropods in flight.
Lasiopogon albidus
Lasiopogon albidus is a species of robber fly (Diptera: Asilidae) in the genus Lasiopogon, originally described by Cole & Wilcox in 1938. It belongs to the bivittatus section of the genus, a group of western Nearctic species. The species was redescribed in a 2021 taxonomic revision that included 13 new species descriptions and updated the phylogeny of the genus using molecular data. As with other robber flies, it is presumed to be a predatory insect, though specific biological details for this species remain poorly documented.
Lasiopogon apache
Lasiopogon apache is a species of robber fly (family Asilidae) described by Cannings in 2002. The genus Lasiopogon comprises small to medium-sized predatory flies commonly found in open, sunny habitats. As a member of the Asilidae family, this species is an aerial predator that captures other insects in flight. Very little specific information has been published about this particular species beyond its taxonomic description.
Lasiopogon arenicola
Lasiopogon arenicola is a Nearctic robber fly (Diptera: Asilidae) originally described by Osten Sacken in 1877. It belongs to the bivittatus section of the genus Lasiopogon, a group of predatory flies characterized by their robust build and distinctive facial mystax. The species was validated in a 2020 molecular phylogenetic revision that included it in a Bayesian species tree analysis based on mitochondrial COI and three nuclear protein-coding loci (AATS, PEPCK, Wg). As a member of the Asilidae family, it shares the group's characteristic predatory habits and sand-dwelling ecology implied by its species epithet 'arenicola' (sand-dweller).
Lasiopogon canningsi
Cannings' Sandpirate
Lasiopogon canningsi is a species of robber fly (Diptera: Asilidae) described in 2020 as part of a taxonomic revision of the bivittatus section of Nearctic Lasiopogon. The species is named in honor of entomologist Robert A. Cannings. As a member of the Asilidae family, it is a predatory fly, though specific ecological details remain undocumented in accessible literature.
Lasiopogon chaetosus
Lasiopogon chaetosus is a species of robber fly (family Asilidae) described by Cole and Wilcox in 1938. The genus Lasiopogon comprises small to medium-sized predatory flies characterized by their bristly appearance and ground-perching hunting behavior. Species in this genus are typically found in open, sandy or rocky habitats. The specific epithet 'chaetosus' refers to the bristly or hairy condition of the body surface.
Lasiopogon coconino
Lasiopogon coconino is a species of robber fly in the family Asilidae, described by Cannings in 2002. The genus Lasiopogon comprises small to medium-sized predatory flies primarily distributed in western North America. Members of this genus are characterized by their bristly bodies and predatory habits, typically hunting other insects from perches on vegetation or ground surfaces.
Lasiopogon delicatulus
Lasiopogon delicatulus is a species of robber fly (family Asilidae) described by Melander in 1923. It belongs to the genus Lasiopogon, a group of small, slender robber flies commonly known as 'bee killers' or 'hanging thieves' due to their habit of hanging from vegetation while waiting for prey. The species epithet 'delicatulus' suggests a delicate or small-bodied form relative to other members of the genus. As with most Lasiopogon species, detailed natural history information remains limited.
Lasiopogon esau
Lasiopogon esau is a species of robber fly (family Asilidae) described by McKnight in 2020. The species epithet honors Katherine Esau (1898-1997), a renowned Ukrainian-born plant biologist and UC Davis professor emeritus who received the National Medal of Science. As a member of the genus Lasiopogon, this species belongs to a group of predatory flies known for their bristly bodies and ambush hunting behavior.
Lasiopogon gabrieli
Lasiopogon gabrieli is a species of robber fly (Diptera: Asilidae) in the bivittatus section, first described by Cole & Wilcox in 1938. It belongs to a genus of predatory flies found in western North America. The species was validated in a 2020 molecular phylogenetic revision of Nearctic Lasiopogon. Very few observations exist in public databases.
Lasiopogon karli
Lasiopogon karli is a species of robber fly (Diptera: Asilidae) described by McKnight in 2020. It belongs to the cinereus group within the opaculus section of the genus Lasiopogon, distinguishing it from the bivittatus section that was the primary focus of the taxonomic revision in which it was described. As a member of the Asilidae family, it is presumed to share the general predatory habits characteristic of robber flies, though species-specific ecological data remain undocumented in available sources.
Lasiopogon lavignei
Lasiopogon lavignei is a species of robber fly in the family Asilidae, described by Cannings in 2002. The genus Lasiopogon comprises small to medium-sized predatory flies commonly found in sandy or gravelly habitats near water. This species is part of the tribe Lasiopogonini, which is characterized by distinctive morphological features and habitat preferences.
Lasiopogon marshalli
A species of robber fly in the family Asilidae, described by Cannings in 2002. The genus Lasiopogon comprises small to medium-sized predatory flies commonly found in open habitats. L. marshalli is one of several species in this genus, with limited published biological information available.
Lasiopogon monticola
Mountain Sandpirate
Lasiopogon monticola is a species of robber fly (family Asilidae) described by Melander in 1923. The species epithet 'monticola' (mountain-dwelling) suggests an association with montane habitats. As a member of the Asilidae, it is a predatory fly that captures other insects in flight. The genus Lasiopogon comprises species commonly known as sandpirates, typically associated with sandy or loose soil substrates.
Lasiopogon nelsoni
Lasiopogon nelsoni is a species of robber fly (family Asilidae) described by McKnight in 2020. It belongs to the genus Lasiopogon, a group of small to medium-sized predatory flies commonly found in North America. As with other asilids, this species is likely an aerial predator that captures other insects in flight. The species epithet honors an individual named Nelson, though the specific honoree is not documented in available sources.
Lasiopogon opaculus
Lasiopogon opaculus is a species of robber fly in the family Asilidae, described by Loew in 1874. It belongs to the opaculus section of the genus Lasiopogon, a group of predatory flies found in western North America. The species is part of a taxonomically complex group that has undergone recent revision based on molecular phylogenetic data.
Lasiopogon polensis
Lasiopogon polensis is a species of robber fly (Asilidae) described by Lavigne in 1969. It belongs to a genus of small to medium-sized predatory flies commonly found in sandy habitats. Very few observations of this species exist in public databases, suggesting it may be rare, locally distributed, or underreported.
Lasiopogon shermani
Lasiopogon shermani is a species of robber fly in the family Asilidae, described by Cole and Wilcox in 1938. The genus Lasiopogon comprises small to medium-sized robber flies commonly found in sandy habitats. As with other Asilidae, this species is predatory, capturing other insects in flight. The species is documented from a limited number of observations, suggesting it may be uncommon or underrecorded.
Lasiopogon terricola
Little Reddish Sandpirate
Lasiopogon terricola is a species of robber fly in the family Asilidae, commonly known as the Little Reddish Sandpirate. The species was originally described as Daulopogon terricola by Johnson in 1900. It belongs to the subfamily Laphriinae and tribe Lasiopogonini. As with other robber flies, it is a predatory insect that hunts other arthropods.
Lasiopogon testaceus
Lasiopogon testaceus is a species of robber fly (family Asilidae) described by Cole & Wilcox in 1938. Robber flies in this genus are predatory insects known for their aggressive hunting behavior and strong flying ability. The species epithet 'testaceus' refers to a brick-red or brownish coloration. As with other Asilidae, this species likely exhibits the family's characteristic predatory habits, though specific details about its biology remain poorly documented in available literature.
Lasiopogon tetragrammus
Great Lakes Sandpirate
Lasiopogon tetragrammus is a species of robber fly (Diptera: Asilidae) first described by Loew in 1874. The species was transferred from the bivittatus section to the tetragrammus group of the opaculus section in a 2020 molecular phylogenetic revision by Cannings. It is known by the common name Great Lakes Sandpirate, reflecting its geographic association with the Great Lakes region.
Lasiopogon wilcoxi
Lasiopogon wilcoxi is a species of robber fly (family Asilidae) described by McKnight in 2020. It belongs to the bivittatus section of the genus Lasiopogon, a group of Nearctic predatory flies. The species was established as part of a comprehensive taxonomic revision and molecular phylogenetic study of western Nearctic Lasiopogon species. No specific ecological or behavioral data for this species has been published in the available literature.
Lasiopogon willametti
Willamette Sandpirate
Lasiopogon willametti is a species of robber fly (Diptera: Asilidae) described by Cole and Wilcox in 1938. It belongs to the bivittatus section of the genus Lasiopogon, a group of Nearctic species that has undergone recent taxonomic revision. The species is known by the common name Willamette Sandpirate. As a member of Asilidae, it is a predatory fly, though specific biological details remain poorly documented in accessible literature.
Lasiopogon yukonensis
Lasiopogon yukonensis is a species of robber fly in the family Asilidae, described from the Yukon Territory in 1938. The genus Lasiopogon comprises small to medium-sized predatory flies characterized by a distinctive beard of long facial setae. This species is part of a genus primarily distributed across northern and montane regions of North America.