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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Flies (Diptera) » Orthorrhapha » Asiloidea » Robber Flies (Asilidae) » Laphriinae » Bee-like Robber Flies (Laphria) » Laphria virginica
Photo#777574
Insect eating another insect - Laphria virginica
Copyright © 2013 annzee

Insect eating another insect - Laphria virginica
Forest, Bedford County, Virginia, USA
May 29, 2013
Size: approx 7/8"
I could not tell if this critter had two or 4 wings, but I think it is two. Some kind of fly? Also, I wonder if it's possible to identify the unfortunate creature being eaten. looks a little like a firefly?
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Contributed by annzee on 29 May, 2013 - 9:49pm
Last updated 22 June, 2013 - 10:09pm

Moved
Moved from Bee-like Robber Flies.
… Ben Coulter, 22 June, 2013 - 10:09pm login or register to post comments

Moved
Moved from Robber Flies.
… Herschel Raney, 17 June, 2013 - 12:58pm login or register to post comments

A good approach to ID
It does have two wings, and that makes it a fly. Crazy as this may sound, it's often tough to count wings, as you've discovered. In place of a second set of wings that other insects have, flies have small, circular flight stabilizers called halteres. You can easily see them on your specimen - the light circle on the side near the base of the wing.

Dinner does look like a firefly, or some sort of beetle. Others may tell you more.
… Ron Hemberger, 29 May, 2013 - 10:08pm login or register to post comments

Moved for expert attention
Moved from ID Request.

Robber Fly of some kind. Others will be able to tell you more.

Welcome to BugGuide!
… Ken Wolgemuth, 29 May, 2013 - 9:53pm login or register to post comments

 
Robber Fly
Thanks! - Did a little more research & it is indeed a robber fly, genus Laphria.

Awesome response & knowledge! Thanks again!

az
… annzee, 29 May, 2013 - 11:31pm login or register to post comments

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