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Whats A Robberfly ?
Robber Flies , also known more aptly as Assassin Flies are a large and diverse family of the Dipterian order known for their predatory behaviour. There are aprox 29 species occurring in the UK.
What Do they look Like ?
All robber flies have a characteristic divot on top of the head, dense moustache of bristles on the face (mystax), which is located between their especially prominent compound eyes. In general , adult Asilidae have a long body with tapered abdomen . However, some species are stout and hairy, mimicking bumble bees, and still others may be slender and have a damsel fly appearance. Adults range in size from small (3 mm) to very large (over 50 mm), averaging 9 to 15 mm in length . Robber flies have long, strong legs that are bristled to aid in prey capture.
Sexual dimorphisms - difference in the sexes are not extreme, although females tend to have slightly broader abdomens than males. Most robber flies have a black, gray, or brown coloration
References
Other works by The author
All About British Butterflies
British Shieldbugs
bravenet.com