Species Laphria canis - Laphria canis complex

Classification · Numbers · Size · Identification · Range · Habitat · Season · Food · Internet References

Laphria in the sicula/canis/winnemana trio - Laphria canis - female

Laphria species - Laphria canis - female

Large wasp mimic eating fly - Laphria canis complex - Laphria canis

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 Laphriinae

Genus Laphria (Bee-like Robber Flies)

Species canis (Laphria canis complex)

Numbers

About 60 Laphria in the US. Only a handful in this small dark category.

Size

Small, circa 7-12 mm

Identification

Very small robber flies. Antennae help distinguish from the plumper Atomosia. See Internet references and comments on photos.

Apparently there are closely related species, very hard to distinguish in the field. The close eastern group is canis, sicula and winnemana. See comments under the canis photos above. Laphria canis has a very wide genitalic bulb. L sicula and winnemana have a much narrower one compared to the proximal abdominal segments.

Range

Includes Ontario and Quebec and the northeastern states south to Georgia, Tennessee and Florida. Laphria sicula ranges as far west as Oklahoma and Arkansas. The other two species have not been located in those states.

Habitat

Fields, forest openings, etc. These small species prefer the understory leaf tops of low plants. And they love shaded woodlands. Rarely found away from tree cover.

Season

Summer

Food

Predatory on small invertebrates.

Internet References

Giff Beaton's Laphrinae page--includes Laphria canis complex

Cirrus Imaging

Insects of Cedar Creek--one photo of specimen

Contributed by Cotinis on 3 January, 2005 - 10:45pm
Additional contributions by hraney
Last updated 19 June, 2009 - 7:23am

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