Other Common Names
Giant Robber Flies, Spine-tailed Robber Fly--P. arno
Explanation of Names
Author of genus is Macquart, 1838.
Identification
Large robber flies with a prominent beard. See Internet references.
Range
Includes eastern, central, and western United States, parts (?) of Canada.
Season
Spring-fall. April-July (P. brevipennis, North Carolina). July-October (P. milbertii, North Carolina). July-August (P. milbertii, Minnesota)
Food
Predatory on other insects.
Life Cycle
Eggs laid in crevices in soil. Larvae are predatory on soil insects, also said to eat roots, decaying plant matter. Larvae may require more than one year to reach maturity. Pupation occurs in soil.
Print References
Milne, p. 660, fig. 400--P. rodecki
(1)
Brimley, p. 339, lists 7 spp. for North Carolina.
(2)
Taber, pp. 68-69, fig. 55--P. arno
(3)Internet References
Univ. Florida--P. occidentalis
Winds of Kansas--photos of specimens
Giff Beaton--subfamily Apocleinae
North Carolina State University Entomology lists 8 species for that state, with number pinned: brevipennis (13), gracilis (1), heros (7), longus (8), milbertii (14), philadelphicus (7), rufus (8), vittatus (2, no longer a valid name?)
