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Bee-like Robber Fly A huge robber fly that was very hairy and had bee-mimicking colors- including on it's abdomen, which had black and yellow stripes. These flies prey on insects, including other robber flies. Their specialized mouthparts allow them to penetrate the elytra of beetles - not an easy task! They inject their prey with special enzymes, which liquefy/dissolve the insect's guts, which are then sucked out by the robber fly. Insect smoothie ;) Bee-like Robber Fly,Geotagged,Laphria,Laphria thoracica,Spring,United States,bee mimic,fly,mimicry,robber fly Click/tap to enlarge PromotedSpecies introCountry intro

Bee-like Robber Fly

A huge robber fly that was very hairy and had bee-mimicking colors- including on it's abdomen, which had black and yellow stripes. These flies prey on insects, including other robber flies. Their specialized mouthparts allow them to penetrate the elytra of beetles - not an easy task! They inject their prey with special enzymes, which liquefy/dissolve the insect's guts, which are then sucked out by the robber fly. Insect smoothie ;)

    comments (2)

  1. Hehe. Fantastic insect, never seen anything like it! Posted 7 years ago
    1. Haha, thanks. It’s the only one I’ve ever seen. Looks like a creepy bee with a beard. Posted 7 years ago

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A large species of robber fly that is very hairy and has bee-mimicking coloration, including black and yellow stripes on its abdomen.

Similar species: True Flies
Species identified by Christine Young
View Christine Young's profile

By Christine Young

All rights reserved
Uploaded Mar 9, 2018. Captured Jun 8, 2013 02:33 in 2 US-7, Kent, CT 06757, USA.
  • Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XTi
  • f/4.0
  • 1/60s
  • ISO400
  • 100mm