Robber fly

Common Name – Robber fly

Distribution – Throughout India

Habit – Solitary insect

Habitat – 

Robber flies can be observed on a sunny day, sitting on a blade of grass generally in open, sunny locations, looking intently for potential prey.   

Food – 

They have voracious appetites and feed on a vast array of other insects including wasps, bees, dragonflies, grasshoppers, and other flies

Interesting facts –

• Robber flies are predators
• Small flies but sit on the top of the predatory chain of insects
• They establish perching zone (a place to settle or rest)
• The robber fly has incredibly sophisticated eyes which gives them a remarkable ability to detect and intercept its prey mid-air, changing direction mid-flight before sweeping round for the kill.
  
  

Defence – 

They attack their prey by stabbing it with their short, strong proboscis and injecting it with saliva that paralyzes the victim.

Threat –

Use of chemical, use of pesticides in farm, gardens