FAMILY ASILIDAE

The family Asilidae contains about 7,100 described species worldwide. All robber flies have stout, spiny legs,
a dense moustache of bristles on the face (mystax), and 3 simple eyes (ocelli) in a characteristic depression
between their two large compound eyes. The antennae are short, 3-segmented, sometimes with a bristle-like
structure called an arista. The short, strong proboscis is used to stab and inject victims with saliva containing
neurotoxic and proteolytic enzymes which paralyze and digest the insides. Many species have long, tapering
abdomens, sometimes with a sword-like ovipositor. Others are fat-bodied bumblebee mimics.
Adult robber flies attack other flies, beetles, butterflies and moths, various bees,
dragon and damselflies, Ichneumon wasps, grasshoppers, and some spiders.

The text above is from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia and is licensed under the GFDL.

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