Dasypogon diadema (Fabricas, 1781)
Body Length: 18 to 26mm.
Flight Season: June till August
This is a large robber fly, that preys primary on bees and wasps, but will prey on most flying insects including, 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: Various open sandy areas, including mountain regions. The female will lay between 2 to 6 eggs, contained in a cocoon, buried into the sand. The Larvae are predators of soil dwelling beetle and bee larvae.
Widespread over most of southern and mid Europe, prefers warmer climates. Only common in localised places, where conditions are suitable.
Females are black with a white beard, white spots on the sides of the abdomen and a dull red/orange marking in the middle of the top of the abdomen. Males are all black, including wings, but some have white faces and beards.
Legs on males and females can be black or orangey red.
In the images below….The male Dasypogon diadema was one minute resting on a plant, then as quick as a blink, he captured this honey bee just above my head!