Robber Fly (Assassin flies): Voracious Predator of Insects

Robber Fly (Assassin flies): Voracious Predator of Insects 

       
       As we all knows flies as being particularly badass, annoying and filthy. But there is actually one kind of fly that's just as voracious of a predator as any savage jungle cat or surfer-mangling shark. They are called robber flies (Assassin flies).


  



















According to Torsten Dikow, curator in the entomology department at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History, assassin flies are “aggressive, visual predators that perch on vegetation and rocks to look for insects flying by. Once an assassin fly spots its prey, it follows and attacks it in flight by grabbing the insect with its legs, biting it on its back or side, and injecting it with venomous saliva.” Venomous saliva of robber fly kill the prey quickly. Then the fly take its prey to safe place with strong, bristle legs to eat at its leisure. The saliva not only kills the insect, it liquefies inside and sucks up. Then leave the empty carcass behind and wait for more prey.

    

The venomous toxin composition of robber flies are yet to decode and have not published any comparison with venom of other arthropods like scorpions or even other animals like snakes or jellyfish.  

“Assassin flies have mixed impact on agriculture”

Adults prey on a variety of arthropods and considered to be beneficial insects for different varieties of crop cultivations. However, they are dangerous for apiculture, as they hunt and feed on bees, they can easily enter to beehive and can adversely affect their population.

Photo Courtesy: Subasa Bishwal