Laphria | |
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Laphria sadales | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Diptera |
Family: | Asilidae |
Subfamily: | Laphriinae |
Genus: | Laphria Meigen, 1803 |
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.
These large flies measure 15–25 mm (0.59–0.98 in) in length. Most Laphria species are quite hairy and black in color. Some have bee-mimicking markings with black and yellow stripes (like Laphria thoracica ). They can be encountered from July through September.
Select species include: [1] [2] [3] [4]
Anthrax is a genus of bombyliid flies, commonly known as "bee-flies" due to their resemblance to bees. Most are dull black flies, and are usually small to medium in size, 4–20 millimetres (0.2–0.8 in), and many species have striking wing patterns.
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 expert predatory habits; they feed mainly or exclusively on other insects and, as a rule, they wait in ambush and catch their prey in flight.
Eristalis is a large genus of hoverflies, family Syrphidae, in the order Diptera. Several species are known as drone flies because they bear a resemblance to honeybee drones.
Bombylius is a large genus of flies belonging to the family Bombyliidae. They are known as the bee-flies, due to their striking resemblance to bees and bumblebees, and are distributed worldwide. One species of the genus, Bombylius major, is widely distributed throughout the northern hemisphere and is very well known.
Choerades is a genus of robber flies described by Francis Walker in 1851, belonging to the family Asilidae, subfamily Laphriinae.
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.
Efferia is an insect genus of mainly neotropical and nearctic Diptera in the family Asilidae or robber flies. It is one of the most species-rich genera of Asilidae, with particularly high diversity in arid or semi-arid ecosystems of the New World.
Diogmites is a genus of mainly neotropical flies in the family Asilidae or robber flies.
Heteropogon is a genus of robber flies in the family Asilidae. There are at least 60 described species in Heteropogon.
Neoitamus is a genus of robber flies in the family Asilidae. There are at least 60 described species in Neoitamus.
Holopogon is a genus of robber flies in the family Asilidae. There are at least 60 described species in Holopogon.
Dasypogon is a genus of robber flies in the family Asilidae. There are at least 80 described species in Dasypogon.
Lamyra is a genus of robber flies in the family Asilidae. There are at least 30 described species in Lamyra.
Andrenosoma is a genus of robber flies in the family Asilidae. There are at least 70 described species in Andrenosoma.