Giant Robber Fly vs Narcissus Bulb Fly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Giant Robber Fly Narcissus Bulb Fly
Scientific Name Promachus fitchii Merodon equestris
Order Diptera Diptera
Family Asilidae Syrphidae
Size 20-35 mm 10-15 mm
Habitat Meadows Underground
Diet Predators Nectar Feeders
Regions North America Europe, North America (introduced), Oceania (introduced)
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Giant Robber Fly

A large, bristly predatory fly with powerful grasping legs and a sharp proboscis. It ambushes prey in mid-air with remarkable speed and precision, including insects larger than itself.

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Did You Know?

Robber flies inject prey with saliva containing neurotoxins and digestive enzymes, liquefying the insides and then sucking them out.

Narcissus Bulb Fly

A bumble bee-mimicking hoverfly that comes in multiple color forms matching different bumblebee species. Its larvae bore into and destroy daffodil and narcissus bulbs.

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Did You Know?

It exists in multiple color forms, each mimicking a different bumblebee species found in the same habitat.