Friendly Robber - Efferia aestuans

Nerax

The Nerax are in the top group of human perchers among the robbers. They like vertical and horizontal perches. I can always lure them to my net handle and have had many land on me as well. This is likely N. [Efferia] aestuans again. They don't bite in this situation by the way.

… Herschel Raney, 9 August, 2005 - 9:11am

Nerax

Thanks again Hershel. I didn't figure it would bite, but then I didn't realize that robbers ever bit people.

… Robert Overbeck, 9 August, 2005 - 9:40am

Bites

Well, they have a very nasty pointy injector. And apparently when you are handling the larger species alive they can inject/sting, whatever we wish to call it. Jeff Barnes, the robber main man here at the insect museum has been popped when taking one out of a net. He said it hurt for hours. Rob Cannings in BC insists they are harmless. I would not put a large Laphria inside my enclosed hand.

… Herschel Raney, 9 August, 2005 - 12:50pm

Anything that can bite, may do so

If it has capabilities, it is hard to label them as harmless, in my opinion, even if bites are rare.

I must admit whenever a large one lands on my hand my first instinct is to brush it off, but I developed that from horse fly experiences...

… James Bailey, 26 January, 2018 - 2:42pm