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

Photos of insects and people from the 2024 BugGuide gathering in Idaho July 24-27

Moth submissions from National Moth Week 2024

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
TaxonomyBrowse
Info
ImagesLinksBooksData
Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Flies (Diptera) » Orthorrhapha » Asiloidea » Robber Flies (Asilidae) » Asilinae » Giant Robber Flies (Promachus)

Genus Promachus - Giant Robber Flies

Classification · Other Common Names · Pronunciation · Synonyms and other taxonomic changes · Explanation of Names · Numbers · Size · Identification · Range · Habitat · Season · Food · Life Cycle · See Also · Print References · Internet References · Works Cited
Robber fly with prey - Promachus Giant Robber Fly - Promachus - female Efferia? - Promachus rufipes - female Red-footed Cannibalfly - Promachus rufipes - female Robber Fly - Red-legged - Lateral - Promachus hinei - male Robber Flies, mating - Promachus - male - female Insect ID - Promachus rufipes Robber Fly - Promachus rufipes
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Diptera (Flies)
No Taxon (Orthorrhapha)
Superfamily Asiloidea
Family Asilidae (Robber Flies)
Subfamily Asilinae
Genus Promachus (Giant Robber Flies)
Other Common Names
Bee Killer
Pronunciation
prom'-uh-kus
Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Promachus Loew 1848
Explanation of Names
Greek: promachos (προμαχος) 'defender, champion' (from pro 'before' + machesthai 'fight')(1)
Borror(2) translates promachus as "challenger"; and Wikipedia gives "who leads in battle", and lists several historical greek figures referred to by the name.
Numbers
22 spp. in our area, ~220 total(3)
Size
20-35 mm
Identification
Large robber flies with tiger-stripe pattern on abdomen
Range
worldwide, almost 3/4 of the spp. in the Old World tropics; in the New World, US to Chile (P. dimidiatus ranges into Canada), in our area mostly western (just 3 spp. occur in the Atlantic states)(3)
Habitat
Meadows, fields
Season
Jun-Aug in north; Jul-Sep in GA (several spp.)
Food
prey: insects, often Hymenoptera
Life Cycle
Eggs are typically laid on ground near grass roots. Larvae burrow into soil, feed on soil insects, roots, and decaying matter. Pupation is in an unlined cell in the soil.
See Also
Proctacanthus
Print References
Hine J.S. (1911) Robberflies of the genera Promachus and Proctacanthus. Ann. Ent. Soc. Amer. 4(2): 153-172
Internet References
Genus page(4)
Works Cited
1.The Century Dictionary: an encyclopedic lexicon of the English language
2.Dictionary of Word Roots and Combining Forms
Donald J. Borror. 1960. Mayfield Publishing Company.
3.Information on robber flies, compiled by F. Geller-Grimm
4.Herschel Raney's Random Natural Acts: Robber Flies
Contributed by Cotinis on 26 March, 2004 - 10:43pm
Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset, Aaron Schusteff, v belov
Last updated 21 July, 2016 - 12:01pm

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 © 2003-2025 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