# Stripe-legged Robber Fly (*Dioctria hyalipennis*) The Stripe-legged Robber Fly is a cool insect with long legs and big eyes! It loves to catch other bugs in mid-air, making it a great hunter in the garden. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 24 - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![Stripe-legged Robber Fly](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Dioctria.hyalipennis.-.lindsey.jpg&width=800) Photo: James K. Lindsey, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dioctria.hyalipennis.-.lindsey.jpg) ## Appearance The Stripe-legged Robber Fly is a slender insect with a shiny black body and clear, delicate wings. Its black legs feature distinct bright yellow or orange bands, giving it its striped appearance. It has large, prominent eyes that dominate its head. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Diptera - **Family:** Asilidae - **Genus:** Dioctria ## Interesting facts - After catching prey, it injects a special digestive fluid to liquefy its meal from the inside! - Its huge eyes have thousands of tiny lenses, making it a super sharp hunter! - Its larvae live in the soil and are also fierce predators, hunting tiny worms and other grubs! - Some species even mimic buzzing bees or wasps, tricking predators into leaving them alone! ## Special abilities - **Aerial Ambush Master:** Stripe-legged Robber Fly can dart out from a perch to snatch flying prey directly from the air with incredible speed and agility. - **Paralyzing Proboscis:** Stripe-legged Robber Fly has a strong, dagger-like proboscis that delivers paralyzing venom to quickly subdue its insect victims. - **360-Degree Vision:** Stripe-legged Robber Fly has large, multifaceted compound eyes that help them track and pinpoint even the fastest moving prey. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 15-30 mm - **Size:** 8-15 mm - **Lifespan:** 30-60 days - **Flight Speed:** 25 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding A fierce hunter of other insects, catching them right out of the air! - **Age differences:** Larvae are predators of small soil invertebrates, while adults hunt flying insects. - **Primary Foods:** Flies, Gnats, Leafhoppers, Aphids, Small bees - **Foraging Method:** Ambush ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** House Fly (*Musca domestica*) — Preys on adult flies - **Hunts:** Black Bean Aphid (*Aphis fabae*) — Eats various small insects - **Eaten by:** [Great Tit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-tit) (*Parus major*) — Preyed upon by birds - **Eaten by:** European Garden Spider (*Araneus diadematus*) — Can get caught in webs ## Traits - [Striped](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/striped): Marked with parallel bands or lines of color. - [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. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low These flies are not dangerous, but it's best to watch them from a distance. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Stripe-legged Robber Fly? 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 Stripe-legged Robber Fly's wingspan? 15-30 mm ### How big is Stripe-legged Robber Fly? 8-15 mm ### How long does Stripe-legged Robber Fly live? 30-60 days ### How fast can Stripe-legged Robber Fly fly? 25 km/h ### What does Stripe-legged Robber Fly eat? A fierce hunter of other insects, catching them right out of the air! ### Where is Stripe-legged Robber Fly usually found? Grasslands ### How does Stripe-legged Robber Fly hunt? Ambush ## Where to spot - [Arnold Arboretum](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/arnold-arboretum) — Massachusetts, US · Botanical Garden - [Barrington Civic Center Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/barrington-civic-center-historic-district) — Rhode Island, US · Historic District - [Chestnut Street District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/chestnut-street-district) — Massachusetts, US · Historic District - [Customhouse Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/customhouse-historic-district) — Rhode Island, US · Historic District - [Davisville Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/davisville-historic-district) — Rhode Island, US · Historic District - [Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/drumlin-farm-wildlife-sanctuary) — Massachusetts, US · Nature Reserve [View all places to see Stripe-legged Robber Fly](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/stripe-legged-robber-fly) ## 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: [Stripe-legged Robber Fly: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/stripe-legged-robber-fly)