Robber Fly Collection

Tango
Atul Saluja

Drawing parallels
Atul Saluja

robber fly
Vida

Curtis British Entomology Plate 153
Diptera: Dasypogon brevirostris, = Leptarthrus brevirostris (Slender-legged Robber-fly) [Plant: Blackstonia perfoliata (Chlora perfoliata, Perforated Yellow-wort)] Date: 1824-39

Curtis British Entomology Plate 94
Diptera: Laphria nigra = Choerades marginatus (Black Robber-fly) [Plant: Sison amomum (Bastard Stone Parsley)] Date: 1824-39

Curtis British Entomology Plate 46
Diptera: Asilus germanicus = Pamponerus germanicus (White- and Black-winged Robber-fly) [Plant: Corydalis claviculata (Fumaria claviculata, Climbing Fumitory)] Date: 1824-39

Wild Sage, 1833-39 (coloured engraving)
999343 Wild Sage, 1833-39 (coloured engraving) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: A Dictionnaire pittoresque d histoire naturelle et des phenomAnes de la natureA)

Picture No. 12009485
Robber fly feeding on recently-caught beetle - prey species Lagria vulnerata (Tenebrionidae) - hanging from support by one leg - Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa Date:

Kite-tailed Robberfly (Machimus atricapillus) adult, basking on edge of flowerpot in garden, Belvedere, Kent, England, august

Manx Robber Fly (Machimus sp. )
Manx Robber Fly (Machimus sp.)

Kite-tailed Robber Fly -Tolmerus atricapillus-, Haren, Emsland region, Lower Saxony, Germany, Europe

Robber fly -Asilidae- on a chamomile or camomile flower -Matricaria chamomilla-, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany, Europe

Robberfly -Machimus rusticus- with a captured hoverfly, Germany

Robberfly -Machimus rusticus-, sitting on a flower of a wild carrot, Germany

Wasp Robber Fly with prey, Goegap Nature Reserve, Namaqualand, South Africa, Africa

Robber Fly -Asilidae sp. -, Goegap Nature Reserve, Namaqualand, South Africa, Africa
Robber Fly -Asilidae sp.-, Goegap Nature Reserve, Namaqualand, South Africa, Africa

Wasp Robber Fly -Asilidae- with prey, Goegap Nature Reserve, Namaqualand, South Africa, Africa

Robber Fly -Asilidae- with prey, Goegap Nature Reserve, Namaqualand, South Africa, Africa

Robber Fly -Asilidae-, Goegap Nature Reserve, Namaqualand, South Africa, Africa

Golden-tabbed Robberfly -Eutolmus rufibarbis- with captured honey bee on a blackberry leaf, Hesse, Germany

Robber Fly Efferia Sp Southern Texas
Robber Fly, Efferia Sp, Southern Texas

Common Awl Robberfly (Neoitamus cyanurus) adult, Hampshire, England, August

Robber fly on a leaf C016 / 6250
Robber fly on a leaf. Robber flies (family Asilidae) are predators of other flying insects that they ambush in flight. Photographed in Yasuni National Park, Amazon rainforest, Ecuador

Robber fly (Leptogaster cylindrica) on a plant stalk. Robber flies (family Asilidae) are predators of other flying insects that they ambush in flight. Photographed in Poland

Robber fly on a flower
Robber fly (Machimus sp.) on a flower. Robber flies (family Asilidae) are predators of other flying insects that they ambush in flight. Photographed in Poland

Robber fly C018 / 2445
Robber fly. Close-up of the head of a robber fly (family Asilidae), showing its large compound eyes. Robber flies are predators of other flying insects that they ambush in flight

Robber fly and prey C016 / 4755
Robber fly and prey. Robber fly (Promachus sp.) with a bee it has caught. Robber flies (family Asilidae) are predators of other flying insects that they ambush in flight

Robber fly C016 / 4742
Robber fly (Promachus sp.) on a plant stalk. Robber flies (family Asilidae) are predators of other flying insects that they ambush in flight. Photographed in Tenerife, Canary Islands

Robber fly and prey C016 / 4741
Robber fly and prey. Robber fly (Promachus sp.) with a bee-fly (family Bombyliidae) it has caught. Robber flies (family Asilidae) are predators of other flying insects that they ambush in flight

Robber fly (Saropogon sp. ) hunting for aerial prey from a beach mat covered with sand and pebbles, Samos, Greece
Robber fly (Saropogon sp.) hunting for aerial prey from a beach mat covered with sand and pebbles, Samos, Greece, Europe

Pegesimallus teratodes, robber fly
A robber fly, a predatory fly from Tanzania. Only the males have the long scales on the hind-legs, their use is not known but could be used to attract females

Common Red-legged Robberfly (Dioctria rufipes) adult, resting on stem, Italy, july

Hornet Robberfly (Asilus crabroniformis) adult, cleaning forelegs, resting on twig, England

Dune Robber Fly (Philonicus albiceps) adult, covered with dew, resting on reed leaf, Suffolk, England, july

Robber fly feeding on a cockroach
Robber fly (family Asilidae) feeding on a cockroach. The robber fly, or bee killer, is a predator of flying insects. It has a short, powerful proboscis, used for sucking the juices of its prey

Golden-tabbed robberflies (Eutolmus rufibarbis) mating on sand. The robberfly, or bee killer, is a predator of flying insects

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Drawing parallels to its name, the a true bandit of the insect world. With its menacing appearance and predatory nature, this fascinating creature strikes fear into the hearts of its victims. Curtis British Entomology Plate 153 showcases the elegant yet deadly beauty of the robber fly. Its elongated body and large compound eyes give it an almost alien-like appearance, while its long legs and powerful wings enable it to swiftly capture prey in mid-air. In Curtis British Entomology Plate 94, we see a different species in action. This particular individual, known as the Kite-tailed Robberfly (Machimus atricapillus), perches on the edge of a flowerpot in a garden in Belvedere, Kent, England. Its presence serves as a reminder that even our own backyards are not safe from these skilled hunters. The Common Awl Robberfly (Neoitamus cyanurus) takes center stage in Curtis British Entomology Plate 46. Found in Hampshire, England during August, this specimen demonstrates how adaptable these insects can be to various environments and seasons. Manx Robber Fly (Machimus sp. ) is another member of this cunning family captured by Wild Sage's colored engraving from 1833-39 (Picture No. 12009485). The intricate details depicted highlight both their delicate features and their formidable hunting abilities. Finally, Tango brings us closer to Germany with their image titled "Kite-tailed Robber Fly -Tolmerus atricapillus-, Haren. " Here we witness one perched calmly amidst lush greenery in Lower Saxony's Emsland region. It reminds us that no matter where we go within Europe or beyond, these incredible creatures can be found lurking nearby. Whether it's through Curtis' meticulous illustrations or modern-day photographs like those captured by Tango or Wild Sage; the robber fly continues to captivate us with its predatory prowess.