| Choerades marginata | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Diptera |
| Family: | Asilidae |
| Genus: | Choerades |
| Species: | C. marginata |
| Binomial name | |
| Choerades marginata (Linnaeus, 1758) | |
| Synonyms [1] | |
Asilus marginatusLinnaeus, 1758 | |
Choerades marginata is a species of robber fly (Asilidae: Laphriinae) found in Europe. [2]
This species is present in most of Europe (Albania, Austria, Belgium, British Islands, European Russia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, The Netherlands and former Yugoslavia). [3] These robber flies mainly inhabit spruce and beech forest and hedge rows. [4]
Choerades marginata can reach a body length of about 9–15 mm (0.35–0.59 in) and a wings length of 6.5–8 mm (0.26–0.31 in). [4] In males the first antennal segment is about 1.8 - 2.1 times as long as the second one, while in female is 3 times longer. The sides of thorax (pleura) and the humeral callus are distinctly tomentose and scutum has only few, normal hairs. The lateral sclerites (mesopleuron) have a greyish-brown tomentum, with sparse yellow and black hairs all over. Tergites and legs are entirely black. In males the face usually shows yellow hairs above the facial gibbosity, tergites have yellow hair at the sides and the last tergite has a straight, hind margin. [5] [6]
Adults can be found from May to September. They prey on other flies. [4]
The Asilidae are the robber fly family, also called assassin flies. They are powerfully built, bristly flies with a short, stout proboscis enclosing the sharp, sucking hypopharynx. The name "robber flies" reflects their notoriously aggressive predatory habits; they feed mainly or exclusively on other insects and, as a rule, they wait in ambush and catch their prey in flight.
Leptarthrus brevirostris is a Palearctic species of robber fly in the family Asilidae.
Dasypogoninae is a subfamily of robber flies in the family Asilidae. There are more than 60 genera and 520 described species in Dasypogoninae.
Choerades is a genus of robber flies described by Francis Walker in 1851, belonging to the family Asilidae, subfamily Laphriinae.
Choerades fimbriata is a fly in the family Asilidae.
Psila fimetaria is a species of fly, a member of the family Psilidae.
Laphriinae is a subfamily of robber flies in the family Asilidae. There are more than 110 genera and 1,000 described species in Laphriinae. Larvae of the genus Hyperechia are known to grow inside the cells of Xylocopa bees, feeding on their larvae.
Prolepsis is an insect genus of mainly neotropical Diptera in the family Asilidae or robber flies.
Diogmites is a genus of mainly neotropical flies in the family Asilidae or robber flies.
Stenopogoninae is a subfamily of robber flies in the family Asilidae. There are more than 70 genera and 740 described species in Stenopogoninae.
Neoitamus cyanurus, the common awl robberfly, is a species of 'robber fly' belonging to the family Asilidae.
Stichopogoninae is a subfamily of robber flies in the family Asilidae. There are about 14 genera and at least 230 described species in Stichopogoninae.
Dioctria bicincta is a species of robber fly classified in the subfamily Dasypogoninae of the family Asilidae.
Dioctria rufipes, the common red-legged robberfly, is a species of robber fly in the subfamily Dasypogoninae of the family Asilidae.
Cyrtopogon ruficornis is a species of fly in the robber flies family. It is found in parts of Central and Southern Europe.
Stilpnogaster aemula is a species of 'stiletto flies' belonging to the family Asilidae.
Machimus setibarbus is a species of fly in the family Asilidae, the robber flies and assassin flies.
Neomochtherus geniculatus is a species of fly in the robber fly family, Asilidae.
Neoitamus cothurnatus, the scarce awl robberfly, is a species of 'robber fly' belonging to the family Asilidae.