Habitat
Adults: terrestrial
Immatures: terrestrial

Feeding Habits
Adults: predaceous
Immatures: predaceous

North American
Species: 983

Diptera Asilidae
Robber flies

Special Characteristics: Robber flies are small to very large sized, hairy with usually a long slender abdomen. The legs are long and spiny, the lower part of the face or sometimes the entire face is covered with dense bristles, and the top of the head is excavated. Most are dark coloured but some are black and yellow and look like bees.

Comments: Adult Asilidae are predators of other flying insects. They attack a variety of insects even those that are larger than themselves. They insert their short but strong proboscis into the insects to suck their body fluids. Some of the larger species can give a painful bite if handled. Adults are common in dry, open and sunny places. The larvae are found in soil, decaying wood or fallen leaves where they are predaceous on the eggs, larvae and pupae of other insects.

Species:
Cyrtopogon bimacula Walker

Common Name:

Distribution:
Widespread in Canada.

Comments:
This species is common in dry open areas.