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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Flies (Diptera) » "Orthorrhapha" (Brachycera excluding Aschiza and Schizophora) » Asiloidea » Robber Flies (Asilidae) » Trigonomiminae » Holcocephala

Genus Holcocephala

Robberfly - species help needed - Holcocephala fusca Robber Fly 1 - Holcocephala fusca - female Robber Fly 2 - Holcocephala fusca - male Tiny robber - Holcocephala Robberfly - Holcocephala Smallish Robber Fly - Holcocephala abdominalis Brown Fly - Holcocephala Small Robber Fly - Holcocephala
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Diptera (Flies)
No Taxon ("Orthorrhapha" (Brachycera excluding Aschiza and Schizophora))
Superfamily Asiloidea
Family Asilidae (Robber Flies)
Subfamily Trigonomiminae
Genus Holcocephala
Explanation of Names
Author of genus is Say, 1823.
From Greek holco a furrow, trail (1) plus Greek cephala head.
Numbers
Three species in the US. fusca, calva and abdominalis.
Size
These are small robbers, all less than 10mm.
Identification
The very widely spaced eyes almost eliminates all other genera in the US.
Range
All three species are eastern and this includes most of the eastern states.
Habitat
Grassy open areas near woods.
Season
Mid to late summer.
Food
Gnats and small flying prey.
Print References
Borror, entry for holc (1)
Works Cited
1.Dictionary of Word Roots and Combining Forms
By Donald J. Borror
Contributed by Ethan Friedman on 25 July, 2005 - 7:01am
Additional contributions by cotinis, hraney, Beatriz Moisset
Last updated 11 June, 2008 - 6:45am

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