Kingdom Animalia Subfamily Laphriinae Phylum Arthropoda Rank Genus | Family Asilidae Scientific name Laphria Higher classification Laphriinae Order Fly | |
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Similar Asilidae, Fly, Bumblebee robberfly, Insect, Laphriinae | ||
Laphria, the bee-like robber flies, is a genus described by Johann Wilhelm Meigen in 1803, belonging to the family Asilidae, subfamily Laphriinae.
This genus has an Holarctic ecozone distribution, occurring from the British Isles, across Europe and Asia, to Japan, as well as across the whole North America.
The adults average sizes reach 15–25 millimetres (0.59–0.98 in). These huge robber flies are quite hairy, their body is usually black, while the bee-mimicking abdomen shows black and yellow stripes. They can be encountered from July through September.
They generally prey on insects of various species, including other robber flies, bees, wasps and beetles. Their characteristic mouth allow the species of Laphria to penetrate their sclerotized proboscis in between the elytra of preyed beetles. All the preys are dissolved by special enzymes injected in their bodies, which are then sucked out by the predator.