Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada
 

Register · Log In
HomeGuideID RequestRecentFrassForumsDonateHelp
Clickable Guide
Moths Butterflies Flies Caterpillars Flies Dragonflies Flies Mantids Cockroaches Bees and Wasps Walkingsticks Earwigs Ants Termites Hoppers and Kin Hoppers and Kin Beetles True Bugs Fleas Grasshoppers and Kin Ticks Spiders Scorpions Centipedes Millipedes

Calendar
Upcoming Events

Registration is open for the 2024 BugGuide gathering in Idaho July 24-27

Moth submissions from National Moth Week 2023

Photos of insects and people from the 2022 BugGuide gathering in New Mexico, July 20-24

Photos of insects and people from the Spring 2021 gathering in Louisiana, April 28-May 2

Photos of insects and people from the 2019 gathering in Louisiana, July 25-27

Photos of insects and people from the 2018 gathering in Virginia, July 27-29


Previous events
TaxonomyBrowseInfoImagesLinksBooksData
Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Flies (Diptera) » Orthorrhapha » Asiloidea » Robber Flies (Asilidae) » Asilinae » Giant Robber Flies (Promachus) » Promachus bastardii
Photo#1383629
LARGE ROBBER FLY - Promachus bastardii - female
Copyright © 2017 Terry Prouty

LARGE ROBBER FLY - Promachus bastardii - Female
Tulsa, Tulsa County, Oklahoma, USA
June 12, 2017
I discovered this large robber fly perching on my balcony railing below a growing Polistes exclamans nest which I've been observing and documenting. Thankfully it didn't prey on any of my wasps!
tag · login or register to post comments
Contributed by Terry Prouty on 12 June, 2017 - 12:45pm
Last updated 24 June, 2017 - 5:57pm

Moved
Moved from Robber Flies.
… Terry Prouty, 12 June, 2017 - 5:11pm login or register to post comments

You seem rather
Polistes possessive. But this is a female Promachus bastardii. And she might enjoy a Polistes. Though I have heard you can't just eat one.
… Herschel Raney, 12 June, 2017 - 4:23pm login or register to post comments

 
WASP ENTHUSIAST HERE
I am a wasp enthusiast and this is the very first wasp nest which I've been able to observe on my balcony. I have put a lot of time and energy into observing and documenting the progress of this nest. So, of course, I would feel bad if something were to happen to the foundress because the nest will die off prematurely if she is killed (since the workers are not fertile). I want this nest to thrive!

Anyway, I sincerely appreciate the ID on the robber fly. :-)
… Terry Prouty, 12 June, 2017 - 4:43pm login or register to post comments

Comment viewing options
Select your preferred way to display the comments and click 'Save settings' to activate your changes.

Disclaimer: Dedicated naturalists volunteer their time and resources here to provide this service. We strive to provide accurate information, but we are mostly just amateurs attempting to make sense of a diverse natural world. If you need expert professional advice, contact your local extension office.

Contributors own the copyright to and are solely responsible for contributed content.
Click the contributor's name for licensing and usage information.
Everything else copyright © 2003-2024 Iowa State University, unless otherwise noted.

Bugguide is hosted by:

Plant Pathology, Entomology and Microbiology at Iowa State University logo

Printer Friendly Version 		Terms of Use
Privacy Statement
Site Map
Contact