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DIPTERA, Asilidae (Leach 1819) -- <Images> & <Juveniles>
The Asilidae are commonly called 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 bumblebee mimics. Adult robber flies attack other flies, beetles,
butterflies and moths, various bees, ants, dragon and damselflies, Ichneumon
wasps, grasshoppers, and some spiders. Adults
lay eggs into soil or plants. The larvae are often found in decaying organic
matter, such as dung heaps and rotting logs, but are also found in ordinary
soil. In most species the larvae are omnivorous and are known to eat the eggs
and larvae of other insects. Their life cycle ranges from 1 to 3 years. References: Please refer to <biology.ref.htm>, [Additional references
may be found at: MELVYL
Library] Cole, F.
R. 1969.
The Flies of Western North America.
Univ. Calif. Press, Berkeley & Los Angeles. 693 p. Hull, F. M.
1962.
Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus. 224:
1-430. Martin, C. H.
1957. Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat.
Hist. 111: 345-85. Melin, D.
1923. Uppsala Univ. Zool.
Bidr. 8: 1-317. Ritcher, P. O.
1940. Kentucky Agr. Expt. Sta.
Bull. 401: 73-157. |