This mostly dark robber fly is approximately 1/2 inch (13 mm) in length. The eyes are a dark reddish brown. The thorax is brown with a black mid-stripe. The abdomen is brown with darker markings. The abdomen is pointed in the female with a black tip. The wings are mostly clear. The legs are mostly dark with some orange on the femur, tibia and tarsi. The male and female shown here were identified by a volunteer expert from the BugGuide website. These specimens could not be identified to species from a photograph.
The frequency of occurrence in this area is not currently known. Photos were taken from late June to late September.
Machimus was formerly included in the genus Asilus. There are 36 species of Machimus in North America. Four species reportedly occur in Nebraska. Prey species include moths, spittle bugs, mosquitoes and a variety of other insects.
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