Robber Fly

Location : Palode, Thiruvananthapuram

Kingdom:        Animalia

Phylum:            Arthropoda

Class:              Insecta

Order:              Diptera

Suborder:        Brachycera

Infraorder:        Asilomorpha

Superfamily:    Asiloidea

    Family:            Asilidae

It is also known as assassin fly

Robberfly with a moth prey

It injects a fluid into its victims that breaks down the tissues. Each species has a characteristic habitat. Capable of immobilizing insects larger than itself. Robberflies have excellent vision, characterized by two conspicuous compound eyes. The mouthparts modified to a stabbing proboscis.

 Camouflaged Robberfly

Robber flies have voracious appetites and feed on a vast array of other arthropods, catch their prey in mid air.

Robber flies exhibit minimal courtship behavior. The male pounces on the female much like an act of prey acquisition. Copulation is accomplished in a tail-to-tail fashion with the male and female genetalia interlocked. Flight is not completely inhibited during mating.

It always keep its territory and watch the area from a point.

Death of a Robberfly