spot-tailed lion fly
(Promachus vertebratus)
Conservation • Description • Habitat • Biology • Distribution • Taxonomy
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Description |
The eyes are green, sometimes with a little red. The abdomen is pale gray with a distinct, sharply delineated black stripe – “tiger stripe” – marking on the upper side of each segment. |
Size |
Total length: 1″ to 1¼″ |
Similar Species |
Other giant robber flies (genus Promachus) have dark markings on the upper side of the abdomen. Only P. vertebratus has a distinct, sharply delineated black stripe – “tiger stripe” – marking on the upper portion of each segment. |
Habitat |
Prairies, disturbed areas. |
Biology |
Season |
Mid-July to early September |
Behavior |
It makes a loud buzzing noise as it flies. |
Life Cycle |
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Larva Food |
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Adult Food |
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Distribution |
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Sources |
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| 6/14/2024 | ||
Occurrence |
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Common |
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Taxonomy |
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Order |
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Suborder |
Brachycera |
Infraorder |
Asilomorpha |
Superfamily |
Asiloidea |
Family |
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Subfamily |
Asilinae |
Tribe |
Apocleini |
Genus |
Promachus (giant robber flies) |
Subordinate Taxa |
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Synonyms |
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Asilus vertebratus |
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Common Names |
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spot-tailed lion fly |
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Visitor Photos |
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Dan W. Andree |
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Robber Fly.... It was depositing eggs in a dried cone flower at Twin Valley Prairie on Aug. 18, 2022 |
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? on Green-eyed Robber Fly... I noticed what I believe to be a Green-eyed Robber Fly motioning it tail end in and out of this Coneflower. I believe it was depositing eggs in it. It would poke it in and out several times and I filmed it doing so. |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos |
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Slideshows |
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Visitor Videos |
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Other Videos |
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Giant Robber Fly (Asilidae: Promachus vertebratus) Mating |
About
Uploaded on Aug 13, 2010 Photographed at the Turtle River State Park, North Dakota (11 August 2010). Thank you to Herschel Raney (@Bugguide.net) for identifying this specimen! |
Visitor Sightings |
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| Dan W. Andree 8/18/2022 |
Location: Twin Valley Prairie SNA It was depositing eggs in a dried cone flower at Twin Valley Prairie on Aug. 18, 2022 |
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| Dan W. Andree 8/11/2019 |
Location: Frenchman’s Bluff SNA, Norman Co. Mn. I noticed what I believe to be a Green-eyed Robber Fly motioning it tail end in and out of this Coneflower. I believe it was depositing eggs in it. It would poke it in and out several times and I filmed it doing so. |
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| Kyle, PLM 8/30/2017 |
Location: Pope County Many many of these zipping around as we are harvesting stiff sunflower. They are landing on the sunflower and either pollinating or laying eggs...not sure, but they sure like stiff sunflower. |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings |
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Created 2/15/2012 Last Updated: © MinnesotaSeasons.com. All rights reserved. |