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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 grossa
Photo#21019
Laphria grossa
Copyright © 2005 Bruce Marlin

Laphria grossa
West Chicago prairie, DuPage County, Illinois, USA
June 18, 2005
Size: 25-30mm
This is the biggest Laphria I've ever seen. Sucker almost knocked me down when he did a fly-by with a leaf beetle (Anomoea laticlavia) held close to his (her?) heart. Can anyone key these big guys?
I have more shots if needed. Thanks!
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Contributed by Bruce Marlin on 19 June, 2005 - 10:37pm
Last updated 20 June, 2005 - 7:40am

thoracica?
Any possibility this could be a "blonde" Laphria thoracica? The shape and jizz seem spot on for that species, except for that pesky yellow on the mystax. Even has the rusty hairs on the legs.

Just doesn't seem to show the massive "popsicle-stick" proboscis or luxuriant yellow mystax and beard of grossa.
… Ben Coulter, 13 April, 2007 - 5:07pm login or register to post comments

Laphria
I saw about five of these Laphria grossa today. They are stunning insects. And likely the two largest creatures, Laphria grossa and Laphria lata are the same species. This has the grossa pattern. In the east only lata, grossa, apila, fattigi and macquarti reach this massive size. L apila and fattigi do not appear in Illinois.

Strangely we always see these giants take relatively small beetles and bees for fodder. The smaller L macquarti will take almost anything.
… Herschel Raney, 19 June, 2005 - 11:06pm login or register to post comments

 
Thanks
Thanks Herschel. These flies are still relatively rare where I am, and I have to say I forget to breathe when I'm sneaking up on one.

Can someone make a guide page for this species?
… Bruce Marlin , 20 June, 2005 - 7:13am login or register to post comments

 
Done
Done
… Beatriz Moisset, 20 June, 2005 - 7:40am login or register to post comments

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