BTB Antiphrisson trifarius (Loew, 1849)
Family: Asilidae- Robberflies
Length: 14-18mm
Adult Season: April to August
This is a large robber fly that preys on many flying insect species including bees, wasps, butterflies, beetles, dragonflies, damsel flies and grasshoppers. Using its very long and powerful spiny legs to grip and subdue prey, which is very often caught in flight. The Robberfly will characteristically find a blade of grass or a twig to suspend from by using one leg, then by piercing the prey using its proboscis, the Robberfly injects a salvia containing neurotoxic and proteolytic enzymes which digests the insides of its prey. The Robberfly then proceeds to suck the liquefied juices through the proboscis. The mystax is very similarly placed on its face like a thick dense moustache of bristles which helps protects its face and eyes from the prey’s resistance.
Habitat: Grasslands, Dry Open areas, including Mountains.
The adult female will lay her eggs in soil or on plants, the larvae are often found in decaying organic matter, such as rotting logs, earth and dung heaps.
The life cycle is from 1 to three years. The larvae are omnivorous and will feed on the eggs and larvae of other insects.