Spine-legged Robber Fly vs Tropical Bat Fly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Spine-legged Robber Fly | Tropical Bat Fly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Diogmites angustipennis | Cyclopodia horsfieldi |
| Order | Diptera | Diptera |
| Family | Asilidae | Nycteribiidae |
| Size | 12-18 mm | 3-5 mm |
| Habitat | Deserts & Drylands | Caves |
| Diet | Predators | Parasites |
| Regions | North America | South Asia, Southeast Asia, Australia |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
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.
Did You Know?
Its heavily spined legs form a basket-like cage to trap prey in mid-air.
Tropical Bat Fly
A bizarre wingless bat fly with extremely long spider-like legs and a flattened body. It is a specialist parasite of fruit bats in tropical Asia.
Did You Know?
Its legs are so long relative to its body that it can crawl rapidly through bat fur while maintaining grip during flight.