Heavy Robber Fly and Northeastern Plumetop

Flies are generally categorized as prey for predators such as dragonflies, mantises, and some spiders. But did you know? Certain species of flies fall under the category of predators for other insects. They are robber flies (Asilidae), which are also known as assassin flies.

A few days ago, I captured some robber flies in two separate spots.

The first is Cophinopoda chinensis (Fabricius, 1794), often known as the heavy robber fly. It is the largest robber fly species and is commonly found in grassy areas near marshes.

Heavy robber flies hunt prey such as grasshoppers, wasps, bees, and some other insects.

Next is Ommatius tibialis, commonly known as the Northeastern plumetop, a species of robber fly belonging to the genus Ommatius.

The robber fly is three times smaller than C. chinensis, preying on leafhoppers, aphids, or smaller bugs. Ommatius tibialis is found in bushes close to swampy environments.