Flies in the Diptera family Asilidae are commonly known as robber flies. The family Asilidae contains about 7,100 described species worldwide. All robber flies have stout, spiny legs, a dense moustache of bristles on the face (mystax), and 3 simple eyes (ocelli) in a characteristic depression between their two large compound eyes. The mystax helps protect the head and face when the fly encounters prey bent on defense. The antennae are short, 3-segmented, sometimes with a bristle-like structure called an arista. The short, strong proboscis is used to stab and inject victims with saliva containing neurotoxic and proteolytic enzymes which paralyze and digest the insides; the fly then sucks the liquefied meal through the proboscis. Many species have long, tapering abdomens, sometimes with a sword-like ovipositor. Others are fat-bodied bumble bee mimics. Adult robber flies attack other flies, beetles, butterflies and moths, various bees, dragon and damselflies, ichneumon wasps, grasshoppers, and some spiders.

Literature

• Geller-Grimm F (2003): Fotoatlas und Bestimmungsschlüssel der Raubfliegen Deutschlands (Diptera: Asilidae), CD-ROM, Amphx-Verlag Halle (Saale). ISBN 3932795180
• Haupt J, Haupt H (1998): Fliegen und Mücken - Beobachtung, Lebensweise, Augsburg. ISBN 3894402784
• Honomichl K, Bellmann H (1994): Biologie und Ökologie der Insekten; CD-Rom, Gustav Fischer Verlag, Stuttgart.
• Hull FM (1962): Robber flies of the world., Bulletin of the United States National Museum 224 (1, 2): 1-907; Washington.
• Lavigne RJ (2003): Evolution of courtship behaviour among the Asilidae (Diptera), with a review of courtship and mating. Studia dipterologica 9(2)(2002): 703-742
• Musso JJ (1978): Recherches sur le développement, la nutrition et l'écologie des Asilidae (Diptera - Brachycera), Aix-*Marseille: These université d'droit, d'èconomie et des sciences: 312 S.
• Oldroyd H (1969): Tanbanoidea and Asiloidea, Handb Ident British Insects 9(4). London
• Papavero N (1973): Studies of Asilidae (Diptera) systematics and evolution. I. A preliminary classification in subfamilies., Arquivos de Zoologia do Estado de Sao Paulo 23: 217-274; Sao Paulo.
• Wood GC (1981): Asilidae, In: McAlpine JF, Peterson BV, Shewell GE, Teskey HJ, Vockeroth JR, Wood DM,(Hrsg.): Manual of Nearctic Diptera. Volume 1., Research Branch, Agriculture Canada, Monographs 27: : 549-573; Ottawa.

External links

• Thief flies of North America - reference photographs, descriptions, natural history
• Family Asilidae at Bugguide.net
• Asilidae - Thief flies by Fritz Geller-Grimm
• Images (text in Japanese)
• Family description and images

Flies

Raubfliegen | Asilidae | Rovfluer | Łowikowate