ROBBER FLY

ROBBER FLY

Cerotainia macrocera
ROBBER FLY FAMILY (Asilidae)

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A very small robber fly about 8 mm long.  Overall black with smoky brown wings, large black eyes, relatively long “Y” shaped antennae, black legs, noticeable white halteres.

 

This robber fly was photographed in July 2017 in the restored butterfly garden in the Fontenelle Forest wetlands. The distribution of this species is eastern U.S.  Nebraska is probably the western edge of its normal range.

 

It hunts while perched on vegetation.  It preys on very small flies and other insects.

 

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