Hanging Thieves

Diogmites

Hanging Thieves are unique insects that love to hang out on flowers and plants. They are known for their long legs and can often be seen swinging in the breeze, making them look like they are dancing!

Habitat: Wetlands

Appearance

The Hanging Thieves is a slender, medium-sized fly, often brown or grayish, with a prominent 'beard' of bristles around its face and large, widely spaced eyes. Its long, spiny legs are adapted for grasping prey, and its clear or slightly tinted wings are quite noticeable.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassInsectaOrderDipteraFamilyAsilidaeGenusDiogmites

Hanging Thieves

Interesting facts

Larvae live underground, often preying on grubs and beetle larvae.

Males perform acrobatic mating dances, earning them a 'dance fly' nickname.

Some species mimic bees or wasps to fool predators and prey alike.

They inject paralyzing venom into prey using a dagger-like mouthpart!

Special abilities

Hanging Thieves can snatch flying insects mid-air with incredible speed because of their powerful, spiny legs that act like a basket.

Hanging Thieves has dull, muted colors that help them blend seamlessly into vegetation, making them nearly invisible to unsuspecting prey.

Hanging Thieves can hover and dart with exceptional agility and speed, which helps them track and intercept fast-moving targets.

Measurements & details

Wingspan: 25-50 mm
Size: 15-25 mm
Lifespan: 30-60 days
Flight Speed: 40 km/h
Leg Count: 6

Diet & Feeding

These expert insect hunters grab other flying insects right out of the air!

Age differences: Larvae prey on soil-dwelling insects like grubs, while adults hunt flying insects.

Primary Foods

bees
wasps
flies
grasshoppers
moths
beetles

Foraging Method

Ambush

Ecological connections

hunts

Honey Bee

Apis mellifera

A primary food source for many robber fly species.

hunts

Common Eastern Bumblebee

Bombus impatiens

Often targeted due to their slow, heavy flight.

hunts

House Fly

Musca domestica

Common prey in open and disturbed habitats.

eaten by

American Robin

Turdus migratorius

Adult Hanging Thieves can be prey for insectivorous birds.

eaten by

Black and Yellow Garden Spider

Argiope aurantia

Can get caught in large spider webs.

Traits

Aerial

Aerial creatures spend a significant portion of their lives airborne, utilizing flight for various activities such as hunting, migration, or nesting.

Camouflaged

Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment.

Colorful

Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.

Insectivorous

This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates.

Wetland

This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs.