Robber fly insects are a mixed blessing to gardeners; if they’re seriously perturbed, they can inflict a
painful bite
, but they also help rid the garden of harmful pests like grasshoppers, other flies, wasps, leafhoppers
What does a Robber Fly eat?
It appears that they eat anything that they can catch, for their prey species include
flies, beetles, butterflies, moths, bees, wasps, ants, grasshoppers, crickets, lacewings, dragonflies
, damselflies and mayflies. They also take other species of robber flies smaller than themselves.
Do robber flies eat mosquitoes?
Robber flies are predatory and
eat other insects
, making them a beneficial insect for the garden. Robber flies have big appetites for grasshoppers, mosquitoes and other insects and attack their prey while airborne.
Can robber flies bite humans?
Robber flies, also known as “assassin flies,” often resemble wasps or bees more than they do flies. They certainly bear little resemblance to house flies.
They don’t carry diseases or bite people
, either. Instead, they are swift predators of other insects.
Are robber flies pests?
Because robber flies prey upon other insects,
they are not normally considered pests
. In fact they are often thought of as beneficial because they will eat pests like Japanese beetles. However, they also often prey upon beneficial insects like bees and dragonflies.
How long do robber flies live?
They usually live in soil or rotten wood and overwinter in this developmental stage. The life cycle of a robber fly can take
1-3 years
. The high biodiversity and predatory activity of this group make them very important to ecological food webs.
Are robber flies rare?
Robber flies grab their insect prey with their bristly legs then kill it with an injection of neurotoxic saliva from their proboscis. … It is
a very rare animal in a rare habitat
; it’s one of our endangered insects.
What’s a robber fly look like?
Robber flies range in length to almost 8 cm (3 inches), making them the largest of all flies. Most are dull in colour, and their stout, often
hairy, bodies resemble those of bumble bees
. Between the large-faceted eyes is a moustache of bristles.
How do you attract robber flies?
An open sunny spot with plenty of shrubs and herbaceous plants
will attract and maintain a desirable population of robber flies. The greater the diversity of plant material the more prey will come to the area to provide food for the robber flies.
Why are they called robber flies?
There are over 1,000 species of robber flies (family Asilidae) in North America; and nearly 100 have been recorded from the Upper Midwest. The common name for this group comes
from their ferocious manner of pouncing from the air on their prey.
Are robber flies pollinators?
It can be tempting to vilify robber flies because
they do eat our pollinators
. However, overall, they are considered beneficial insects because they also eat other things besides just our pollinators.
How are robber flies beneficial?
Robber fly insects are a mixed blessing to gardeners; if they’re seriously perturbed, they
can inflict a painful bite
, but they also help rid the garden of harmful pests like grasshoppers, other flies, wasps, leafhoppers
What should I do if I get bit by an assassin bug?
Persons who are bitten should
wash and apply antiseptic to the site of the bite
. Oral analgesics, such as aspirin or ibuprofen, may be useful to reduce the pain. Treatment by a physician is not usually needed, though Caladryl® or topical corticosteroids may help reduce swelling or itching at the site of the bite.
Where do robber flies lay their eggs?
Biology (Back to Top) Female Asilidae deposit whitish-colored eggs on
low-lying plants and grasses, or in crevices within soil, bark, or wood
. Egg-laying habits depend on the species and their specific habitat; most species lay their eggs in masses, which are then covered with a chalky protective coating.
What do flies eat with?
Adult flies feed and harvest their larvae on
organic decaying material
. This includes, fruit, vegetables, meat, animal, plant secretions and human feces. Both male and female flies suck nectar from flowers as well.
Do robber flies eat horseflies?
Quite the case of a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Robber flies feed on a variety of
insects
including but not limited to beetles, dragonflies, damselflies, bees, grasshoppers, wasps, spiders, other flies including deer and horse flies, even butterflies. … The robber fly then sucks its liquified meal through its proboscis.
