# Bee-mimic Robber Flies (*Laphria*) Bee-mimic Robber Flies are cool insects that look like bees! They are fast fliers and love to catch other insects for food. They help keep nature balanced by controlling insect populations. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Grasslands - **Also known as:** Bee-mimic Fly ![Bee-mimic Robber Flies](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Laphria_flava_on_rock.jpg&width=800) Photo: Simon A. Eugster, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Laphria_flava_on_rock.jpg) ## Appearance The Bee-mimic Robber Flies has a robust, hairy body often patterned with black and bright yellow or orange, closely resembling a bumblebee. Unlike true bees, they possess only two wings and feature a distinctive bristly 'beard' around their mouthparts, aiding in prey capture. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Diptera - **Family:** Asilidae - **Genus:** Laphria ## Interesting facts - Even though they look tough, Bee-mimic Robber Flies cannot sting like a real bee! - Their babies, called larvae, live in the ground and munch on other insect grubs! - Wow! These flies can inject venom into their prey, paralyzing them almost instantly! - You can find robber flies on every continent in the world, except chilly Antarctica! ## Special abilities - **Mimicry Master:** Bee-mimic Robber Flies has colors and fuzz that helps them look like dangerous bees, scaring away predators. - **Aerial Ambush:** Bee-mimic Robber Flies can catch other insects mid-flight with their powerful legs because it helps them secure fast-moving prey. - **Bristle Shield:** Bee-mimic Robber Flies has a bristly 'beard' (mystax) that helps protect their face from struggling prey and stings. - **Laser Vision:** Bee-mimic Robber Flies has large compound eyes that help them spot tiny moving insects from far away. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 20-50 mm - **Size:** 10-25 mm - **Lifespan:** 14-28 days - **Flight Speed:** 30 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding These fierce aerial hunters feast on other insects, catching them with powerful legs mid-flight. - **Age differences:** Larvae consume other insect larvae in soil or decaying wood, while adults are active aerial hunters. - **Primary Foods:** bees, wasps, other flies, beetles, grasshoppers - **Foraging Method:** Ambush ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** European honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Preys on these bees, despite mimicking them. - **Hunts:** German wasp (*Vespula germanica*) — Captures and consumes these stinging insects. - **Hunts:** House fly (*Musca domestica*) — An effective predator of common flies. - **Eaten by:** [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) — Can become a meal for insectivorous birds. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Aerial](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aerial): Aerial creatures spend a significant portion of their lives airborne, utilizing flight for various activities such as hunting, migration, or nesting. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Ambush Predator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ambush-predator): An ambush predator hunts by patiently waiting and concealing itself, then launching a sudden attack when unsuspecting prey comes within range. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Don't touch insects unless you know they are safe. Always observe from a distance. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Bee-mimic Robber Flies? Look for six legs, antennae, three body sections and the shape of the wings. Beetles have hardened front wings; flies have just one working pair. Tiny insects may need a close view before their group is clear. Insect Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### What is Bee-mimic Robber Flies's wingspan? 20-50 mm ### How big is Bee-mimic Robber Flies? 10-25 mm ### How long does Bee-mimic Robber Flies live? 14-28 days ### How fast can Bee-mimic Robber Flies fly? 30 km/h ### What does Bee-mimic Robber Flies eat? These fierce aerial hunters feast on other insects, catching them with powerful legs mid-flight. ### Where is Bee-mimic Robber Flies usually found? Grasslands ### How does Bee-mimic Robber Flies hunt? Ambush ## More Insects - [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) - [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*) - [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) --- Source: [Bee-mimic Robber Flies: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/bee-mimic-robber-flies)