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Australian Wildlife

  Giant Blue Robber Fly (Blepharotes splendidissimus)





Giant Blue Robber Fly | Blepharotes splendidissimus photo
Robber Fly, Bardwell Creek, Bexley

Image by Casliber - Some rights reserved.    (view image details)







INSECT FACTS

Identification
Blepharotesis splendidissimus (Giant Blue Robber Fly) is a large black robber fly. The body is broad and covered with short hairs and long legs. It has sturdy black legs and the wings are dark coloured. In flight it makes loud buzzing sound.

Size
length about 35mm

Food
Robber flies attack and feed on other insects such as beetles and flies. They use tehir proboscis to stab their prey and inject saliva with neurotoxins and enzyme which digests the prey. They then suck the insides of their victim through the proboscis.

Range
found in Eastern Australia.



Classification
Class:Insecta
Order:Diptera
Family:Asilidae
Genus:Blepharotes
Species:splendidissimus
Common Name:Giant Blue Robber Fly

Relatives in same Genus
  Giant Yellow Robber Fly (B. coriarius)