Spine-legged Robber Fly vs Cretan Hawker

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Spine-legged Robber Fly Cretan Hawker
Scientific Name Diogmites angustipennis Boyeria cretensis
Order Diptera Odonata
Family Asilidae Aeshnidae
Size 12-18 mm 60-70 mm body
Habitat Deserts & Drylands Mountains
Diet Predators Predators
Regions North America Crete, Greece
Conservation Least Concern Endangered

Spine-legged Robber Fly

A slender amber-colored robber fly with conspicuously spined legs. It hunts from the ground in open sandy or rocky areas.

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Did You Know?

Its heavily spined legs form a basket-like cage to trap prey in mid-air.

Cretan Hawker

A dragonfly endemic to the island of Crete, found only along a few shaded mountain streams. One of Europe's most range-restricted dragonflies. Threatened by water extraction.

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Did You Know?

Found nowhere else on Earth except a few mountain streams on the island of Crete.