Robber takes out Eastern Pondhawk (juvenile male) - Triorla interrupta - BugGuide.Net

HomeGuideID RequestRecentFrassForumsDonateHelp

Clickable Guide

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 » Triorla » Triorla interrupta

Photo#23686

Copyright © 2005 Lynette Elliott

Robber takes out Eastern Pondhawk (juvenile male) - Triorla interrupta

Fort Bragg, Cumberland County, North Carolina, USA
July 8, 2005

I was trying to get a shot of what I think was the Carolina Saddlebags, and I was going to take the shot of the Eastern Pondhawk next....when a robberfly jumped out of the grass and took the pondhawk out. (the pondhawk was about 6 inches off the ground). They raised such a ruckus that the saddlebags flew away. I got this one shot of the robber with pondhawk before the robber picked it up and flew away....quite quickly and easily.

tag · login or register to post comments

Contributed by Lynette Elliott on 9 July, 2005 - 3:13pm
Last updated 2 June, 2008 - 9:03am

maybe Triorla interrupta?

I don't think the robber is identifiable from this photo. However, I have seen one other photo of a robberfly eating a pondhawk, and in that photo the robber was Triorla interrupta. The robber shown here looks awfully similar. The other photo was taken by robberfly-obsessed Arkansas writer/naturalist Herschel Raney, and is on his website at
http://www.hr-rna.com/RNA/Main%20pages/Efferid%20frame%20page.htm
(click on "Triorla")

… Joshua Stuart Rose, 9 July, 2005 - 7:25pm

login or register to post comments

Robber

Hey, at least I am in the twelve step robber-obsessed program.

This is Triorla interrupta. It is a female (far more deadly). And it is the most common dragon-tackler out there apparently. Though Promachus hinei is also dangerous. The Triorla will also take down huge horseflies that weigh more than these robbers or the dragons. I have still yet to see a dragon with any sort of robber. Though I have seen dragons take many large flies in other families.

… Herschel Raney, 10 July, 2005 - 6:32pm

login or register to post comments

very likely

as the last two robbers I shot in that area were interrupta. I suppose if no one objects we could move it there.

… Lynette Elliott, 10 July, 2005 - 7:22am

login or register to post comments

Neat!

That is too cool!!

… Lois Stacey, 9 July, 2005 - 3:41pm

login or register to post comments

Cool

Now that's a cool shot... and I thought dragonflies were formidable predators!

… Ray Simpson, 9 July, 2005 - 3:22pm

login or register to post comments

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:

Printer Friendly Version

Terms of Use
Privacy Statement
Site Map
Contact