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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Flies (Diptera) » Orthorrhapha » Asiloidea » Robber Flies (Asilidae) » Asilinae » Efferia » Nerax group (Efferia Nerax group)
Photo#55251
Fort Worth flying bug - Efferia
Copyright © 2006 Amy

Fort Worth flying bug - Efferia
Fort Worth, Tarrant County, Texas, USA
June 2, 2006
Size: Approximately .5 in. leng
This little critter is new to me. I have lived in this house for more than 20 years, and only recently seen this. And lots of them! It landed right in my lap, and appears to have some kind of stinger? The wings are clear, the body does not appear to be furry at all, though there are hairs on the legs. I have a few other photos, but they aren't as clear as this one.
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Contributed by Amy on 2 June, 2006 - 11:51am
Last updated 23 October, 2008 - 3:48pm

Moved
Moved from Efferia.
… Herschel Raney, 23 October, 2008 - 3:48pm login or register to post comments

Efferia
Yes this is a female Efferia. They use the elongate ovipositor to lay egg, but they can not sting with them, nor are they dangerous in any way. They are called Robber flies and they are very beneficial, cause they eat other insects... They have been around your place for longer then you for sure, but in some years they are more common then in others, but it also might be that your interest in nature has increased and now you just see more different insects around you.
… Martin Hauser, 2 June, 2006 - 12:59pm login or register to post comments

Robber Fly
I think the pointed end indicates a female - perhaps someone else can tell you more. Robber Flies will get you started.
… Hannah Nendick-Mason, 2 June, 2006 - 12:04pm login or register to post comments

 
Yes.
Hannah is right, the sword-like thing is an egg-laying organ called an ovipositor. Very characteristic of female Efferia species. Males, by contrast, have very bulbous hind ends, the claspers being very large and prominent.
… Eric R. Eaton, 2 June, 2006 - 12:58pm login or register to post comments

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