General: Bee-like Robber Flies (Family Asilidae, Laphria spp.) are recognized by their large size, stout, spiny legs, a dense mustache, and 3 simple eyes in a depression between the two large compound eyes. The antennae are short. Most robber flies have long, tapering abdomens; but these mimic large bumblebees.

Robber flies catch a variety of other flying insects, including flies, beetles, butterflies, moths, bees, ants, dragonflies, damselflies, grasshoppers, and even spiders. The sharp proboscis is used to stab and inject prey with enzymes that paralyze and digest it, and then the robber fly sucks out the liquefied meal.