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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Flies (Diptera) » "Orthorrhapha" (Brachycera excluding Aschiza and Schizophora) » Asiloidea » Robber Flies (Asilidae) » Laphriinae » Bee-like Robber Flies (Laphria) » Laphria thoracica
Photo#190973
Bee fly or Robber fly or bee mimic fly?? - Laphria thoracica
Copyright © 2008 Vespula vulgaris

Bee fly or Robber fly or bee mimic fly?? - Laphria thoracica
Perry County, Pennsylvania, USA
June 15, 2008
Size: 1 In
i caught it thinking it was a bee only to discover it was not a bee at all. i had to prove it to my brother, who was in disbelief, by holding it in my hand. anybody know for sure what it is?

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Bee fly or Robber fly or bee mimic fly?? - Laphria thoracica Bee fly or Robber fly or bee mimic fly?? - Laphria thoracica Bee fly or Robber fly or bee mimic fly?? - Laphria thoracica
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Contributed by Vespula vulgaris on 15 June, 2008 - 11:43am
Last updated 16 June, 2008 - 7:22pm

Laphria
L thoracica. Appears to be female. Handled large robberflies should not be taunted or pressed. They are not dangerous but have rather large hypodermic injectors armed with the liquid that dissolves the inside of the insects they capture. I have not been stabbed but it is reportedly rather painful for several hours. Almost certainly worse than most bee stings in duration if not peak intensity.
… Herschel Raney, 16 June, 2008 - 3:18pm login or register to post comments

 
Thank you for the ID!
now i'm really glad i did not hold it for too long... lol! thanks for the info and ID
… Vespula vulgaris, 16 June, 2008 - 7:23pm login or register to post comments

I think you have a Sacken's Bee Hunter....
....the eyes pretty well shout family Asilidae, but we may need Guru Eric for the final say.
… Danny Mims, 15 June, 2008 - 12:04pm login or register to post comments

 
Interesting!
so it not just mimics bees... it eats them too? could it have bitten me when i was holding it?!
… Vespula vulgaris, 15 June, 2008 - 12:11pm login or register to post comments

 
Depends on how mad you get them...
...they will stab you, but will probably startle more than hurt. Hands are pretty tough.
… Danny Mims, 15 June, 2008 - 12:20pm login or register to post comments

 
oh
cuz i put it in my palm and closed my fingers over it to prove that it would not sting... im glad that it did not do anything else lol.
… Vespula vulgaris, 15 June, 2008 - 12:28pm login or register to post comments

 
Laphria sp.
I can tell you what Danny already did, that it is a robber fly in the genus Laphria, but we need Herschel to give us anything more:-)
… Eric R. Eaton, 15 June, 2008 - 5:36pm login or register to post comments

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