A unique insect is worrying some residents of central Oregon, and they’re wondering what it is.
“This is a fly that’s very different from most flies because it’s a predator,” said Pete Pederson, an Oregon Bee Atlas volunteer and OSU extension.
This predator is called the robber fly and is built for speed.
“It’s the best AA gun,” said Pederson. “You have to take off, grab the bug, and once you grab the bug, it can’t escape. Spikes on your legs and spikes all over your body help you hold it.”
Its speed is just one aspect that makes this fly deadly to other insects.
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“You can see a beak coming out at the bottom that releases the neurotoxins and allows it to suck the material out of the insect later,” Pederson said.
These predators have been around for hundreds of thousands of years and are everywhere, including in the high desert.
“I was walking past these bushes here on my lunch break and I saw a robber flying with a honey bee, which immediately piqued my interest,” said Lisa Cowan, natural resources management assistant at the OSU Extension. “I usually see predator flies on the move, but I’ve never seen them with prey.”
Yes, these flies prey on bees, as well as several other insects like flies, wasps, butterflies, dragonflies, and even spiders.
Insect lover Pederson says predator flies don’t appear to be a factor in the decline in bee populations.
“I’ve never heard that there’s been any type of study that’s had an impact on our honey bees or our native bees,” he said.
“A local bee products supplier we spoke to off-camera says he has never heard of these flies and believes they have not had a significant impact on his bees.
Robber flies do not pose any harm to humans, but can bite, although this is rare.
“I think sometimes it happens that so many people are looking at things that they’ve never noticed before,” Pederson said. “So suddenly they get alarmed, what’s that?! In fact, they’ve been here all along.”
