Posted by Cor Zonneveld on 06-06-2008 06:22
#1
Last week (28 May) I saw this spectacular robberfly in Turkey (mid south, nearest big city Adana). It closely resembles
Vespa orientalis. This is especially so in flight; I first so the it flying, and I was convinced it was a Vespa! Then it landed on a bush, rather unusual for Vespa; and folded it wings unlike a Vespa; and only when I saw the antennae I realised it was an Asilid!
It is a large Asilid, and although I saw it only (too) briefly, I'ld say somewhere around 30 mm (Vespa orientalis is a BIG wasp!).
Altitude ca 1000 m. The area was covered with bushes up to 2,5 m, but not too dense - you could walk through the bushes. I saw the fly on the edge of an small open field.
Based on built and the antennae I expect it to be a member of the Laphriinae. Can anyone ID it any further?
Posted by Eric Fisher on 06-06-2008 16:05
#3
This is Laphria dizonias, indeed a spectacular fly. Great job on associating mimic & model.