| Dioctria rufipes | |
|---|---|
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| Dioctria rufipes female, dorsal view | |
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| Side view | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Diptera |
| Family: | Asilidae |
| Genus: | Dioctria |
| Species: | D. rufipes |
| Binomial name | |
| Dioctria rufipes (De Geer, 1776) | |
| Synonyms [1] | |
Dioctria rufipes, the common red-legged robberfly, is a species of robber fly in the subfamily Dasypogoninae of the family Asilidae.
This species can be found in most of Europe (Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, the Netherlands, the former Yugoslavia, Germany, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, Hungary, Great Britain and Italy), in the Near East, and in the eastern Palearctic realm. [2]
This species mainly inhabit scrubby grassland, well wooded areas, woodland edge and hedgerows. [3] [4] [5]
Dioctria rufipes can reach a body length of about 8–15 mm (0.31–0.59 in) and a wings length of 7.5–9 mm (0.30–0.35 in). [5] [6] These medium-large robber flies have a black head and hard piercing mouthparts. [4] The antennal tubercle is well-developed above the eyes. The mesothorax is black, lightly pubescent, with inconspicuous longitudinal stripes. The abdomen is slender, dorsally wider towards the back. The front legs are completely orange-red, whereas the hind legs are mainly black. [4] They show a complete stripe of pale, short and soft pubescence (tomentum) on the sides of the thorax (pleura), with an additional ventral stripe above middle coxa. [7] [8]
Adults can be found from May to July–August. [4] [6] These insects are predators on other insects. They mainly feed on parasitic wasps, [4] ichneumonids, [5] sawflies, empidid flies and a few small species (Phora, Oscinis, Opius species). [9] The larvae develop as predators in the ground. [3]
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.
Sympetrum vicinum, the yellow-legged meadowhawk or autumn meadowhawk, is a member of the Libellulidae family and grows to 26–35 mm long.
The violet black-legged robber fly, Dioctria atricapilla, is a species of robber fly in the subfamily Dasypogoninae. This 9- to 12-millimeter long insect has a wingspan of roughly 7 to 9 mm and short, three-segmented antennae. It's a predatory insect, feeding mainly on smaller flies and predatory hymenopterans. It primarily thrives in grassland, and is seen from May to July.
The hornet robberfly, Asilus crabroniformis, is a species of predatory insect of the Asilidae family.
Laphria is a genus described by Johann Wilhelm Meigen in 1803, belonging to the family Asilidae, subfamily Laphriinae. Members of this genus are known as bee-like robber flies. This genus has a Holarctic distribution, occurring in Europe, Asia, and North America. They prey on a variety of insects, including other robber flies, bees, wasps and beetles. Like other asilids, they use their proboscis to penetrate the body of their prey and inject enzymes which dissolve the tissues.
Atherix ibis, the yellow-legged water-snipefly, is a species of ibis flies belonging to the family Athericidae, a small family very similar to Rhagionidae.
Choerades is a genus of robber flies described by Francis Walker in 1851, belonging to the family Asilidae, subfamily Laphriinae.
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.
Neoitamus cyanurus, the Common Awl Robberfly is a species of 'stiletto flies' belonging to the family Asilidae.
Neoitamus melanopogon, commonly known by its name common robber fly, is a species of fly of Asilidae in the genus Neoitamus, found in both the principal islands of New Zealand.
Dioctria bicincta is a species of robber fly classified 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.
Neomochtherus geniculatus is a species of fly in the robber fly family, Asilidae.
Choerades marginata is a species of robber fly found in Europe.
Neoitamus cothurnatus, the Scarce Awl Robberfly, is a species of 'stiletto flies' belonging to the family Asilidae.
Mallophora ruficauda is a species of parasitic robber fly in the family Asilidae, endemic to South and Central America. Like other robber flies, M. rauficauda is known for its aggressive behavior and predation upon other insects, especially bees. M. ruficauda mimics a bumblebee to fool predators into thinking it has a painful sting and is not worth eating.
Dioctria hyalipennis is a Holarctic species of robber fly in the family Asilidae.