Tundra Robber Fly vs Cinnamon Tachinid

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Tundra Robber Fly Cinnamon Tachinid
Scientific Name Rhadiurgus variabilis Adejeania vexatrix
Order Diptera Diptera
Family Asilidae Tachinidae
Size 10-15 mm 12-16 mm
Habitat Beaches & Coastal Grasslands
Diet Herbivores Parasitoids
Regions Scandinavia, Finland, Scotland, northern Russia North America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Tundra Robber Fly

A medium-sized robber fly with a dark body and distinctive bristly face. It is an aerial predator that ambushes other flying insects from perches on rocks and low vegetation. Adults have powerful grasping legs.

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Did You Know?

This robber fly catches prey in midair and injects digestive enzymes to liquefy the insect's insides before drinking them.

Cinnamon Tachinid

A large, robust tachinid fly with reddish-brown coloring and prominent bristles. It is a common parasitoid of armyworm caterpillars in western North American grasslands.

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Did You Know?

It is considered one of the most important natural enemies of armyworm outbreaks in North American rangelands.