Robber Fly - Neomochtherus - BugGuide.Net

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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Flies (Diptera) » Orthorrhapha » Asiloidea » Robber Flies (Asilidae) » Asilinae » Neomochtherus

Photo#249536

Copyright © 2009 Phil Huntley-Franck

Robber Fly - Neomochtherus

Elkton, Douglas County, Oregon, USA
September 17, 2008
Size: approx 3/4 inch+

Very approachable fly. Like a dragonfly, it would zoom off after a bug, then come back to the same perch - it never did catch anything, though.

Any chance of a specific ID?

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Contributed by Phil Huntley-Franck on 18 January, 2009 - 11:08pm
Last updated 23 January, 2009 - 10:34am

Moved

Moved from Robber Flies.

… Herschel Raney, 23 January, 2009 - 10:34am

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Beauty

Certainly not the terminus of any of the Stenopogon/Scleropogon. Wish I could see an expanded shot of the antenna. Almost looks like an Asilini species and not Stenopogonini. Will send to Dr. Cannings.

… Herschel Raney, 19 January, 2009 - 1:08pm

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Greetings Herschel,

I've added a second post for what may be the same specimen which shows the antenna.

It may not be the same specimen, though it could be if they're territorial - it was patrolling the same area as the previous specimen, and every day, for about two weeks, I'd find it hunting the area. I'm certain it's the same species.

I've also including a full side/dorsal view and closeup tail view on that post so it may be verified that they are, indeed, the same species.

I also have additional images, if that would help.

:-P)

… Phil Huntley-Franck, 19 January, 2009 - 4:27pm

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Consensus

Is that this is a Neomochtherus species which is in the Asilinae. There are three species in OR and apparently even the males are challenging for separation. Would love to see one. Compare the N. californicus female on bugguide here.

… Herschel Raney, 23 January, 2009 - 10:33am

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Thanks Herschel,

Thanks for hunting down the genus on this robber fly. I'll keep an eye out for more of these, and if you like, I'll try to catch one for you.

:-P)

PS - didn't get a link for "here", so looked up Neomochtherus. Couldn't find californicus, but what I did find was rather similar.

… Phil Huntley-Franck, 23 January, 2009 - 12:43pm

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