Robber Flies

Learn about the fierce, predatory nature of robber flies in this video. Hiding in flowers, the insects wait patiently for prey.

[@forestpepper3621]

I have observed the following Robber-Fly hunting technique, in upstate NY. This was back in the early 1990's; however, I did not capture it on film. There would be a number of houseflies in my parents' driveway, next to our house. As a housefly was in flight, a Robber-Fly would suddenly start flying directly over the housefly. The Robber-Fly would gradually come down on top of the housefly, which was flying with the typical "zig-zag" motion of houseflies. Here is the AMAZING part. As the Robber-Fly started getting really close, just above the housefly, it would start copying the "zig-zag" motion of the housefly. It seemed like the housefly and Robber-Fly became perfectly synchronized in flight, and then the Robber-Fly would finally drop down the final half-inch, seizing and killing the housefly. This entire process took maybe 5 seconds or less. If you've ever attempted to grab a housefly with your fingers, while it was flying passed, you will appreciate this extraordinary ability of the Robber-Fly. I observed Robber-Flies do this over and over, capturing many houseflies; so this was not simply one freak event; it was clearly a standard hunting technique of the Robber-Fly.

[@mr-xtotalmenace5010]

Amazing. They are supposed to be one of the most successful huntera on earth catching nearly 100% of their prey.

[@ahnrho]

Thanks for this excerpt. Learning something new everyday.

[@faefiercevulpine6990]

Dragonflies have neurons connecting to their wings, which helps them kill more efficiently by following movement. Maybe the robber has similar evolution!

[@COWHATE]

"It would be like a traffic cone piercing a deer". Metal.

[@natel_9945]

Brutal

[@ahnrho]

Absolutely cruel.

[@troubledseed]

As soon as he said that I had to immediately check the comments. I knew I made the right choice.

[@mcbuttstuff]

@@ahnrho trust me compared to what centipedes might do to their prey this is merciful

[@MrHobbes]

The music is very relaxing given the rather brutal content.

[@nathanferguson8590]

My favorite was, "This saliva also liquifies the organs"

[@unknownyuserishy8335]

100th like

[@duncanpinderhughes]

😂😂😂

[@Randimal762]

Yes, the music and the narrator's middle-aged, mid-Western voice give this video a nice, relaxing, early-90's feel

[@Southpaw88]

*robber fly brutally impales and sucks up fly blood* the musical theme of this video: 😀☺️😇🥰🥰😊🤗

[@karinneeskens]

So... Who is here after Tierzoo to check out the rubber fly? I know I did:)

[@mistermacaroni9240]

Lol me too

[@nnn4376]

:)

[@boldknock7436]

me lol

[@jainkans5794]

Me

[@benshapiroisbae7019]

Yep god dam these thing are ebic

[@Technodreamer]

These guys and dragonflies are tied for the coolest predatory insects.

[@riddlemethat5597]

Robber Flies will happily hunt and eat dragonflies, and a couple of their smaller cousins, damselflies, get eaten in this very video.

[@arkhamasylum8972]

@@riddlemethat5597 Robber Flies amd Dragonflies have been known to eat eachother. The Robber Fly probably wins more often than not but that's because it's adapted to ambushes against other flying insects. If it's a head on air battle the Dragonfly will win almost everytime but if the Robber Fly is perched, it gets the ambush.

[@CheifSmokinDank]

So I think it's safe to say that the only Insect that can kill a Robber Fly is another Robber Fly. These things are assassins, top dog in the Insect world you could say. Great video and narration, I could listen to you talk all day.

[@EternalEmperorofZakuul]

I mean, that'd true, but they fall prey to hornets, mantis, and assassin bugs to a lesser extent

[@Sorex_Tkt]

I've actually used this build before. It is indeed very overpowered in the insect world.

[@roymustang85]

Can i ask you,why isn't this build used as much as other insects?

[@heylinedgear3510]

@@roymustang85 A lot of people were calling the build overpowered and, while there was no direct nerf from the devs, everytime you logged into a server with the build you’d get targeted.

[@mobiiuz129]

@@heylinedgear3510 Yeeeep, I remember making that mistake once. It's tragic that immense levels of pure salt is among the only ways to unify the community.

[@spdfatomicstructure]

Give it another pair of wings and hover capability and it basically becomes a dragonfly

[@pimparoo]

It's funny. I had read about these flies a year ago and never actually found one in person until a few days ago when it decided to perch on my ankle. With all the videos I watched on it beforehand , I could easily recognize it. I was surprised by how polite it was. It just sat minding it's own business and then quickly jumped off of me when I tried to see if it'd perch on my finger. I was aware they could bite painfully too but idk for some reason I just wasn't scared of it. I hope I'll find them again. Maybe they can take care of our house fly problem.

[@Brianna-eo8nu]

For some reason, I find the way it moves its head around cute.

[@getAMCIVideos]

I've never seen this insect before, man it is strong. I would not want to be bitten by one. Real nice video.

[@terrance3218]

They are fierce. They go after prey bigger than them like dragonflies and they eat each other.

[@7DARKHELLS]

They can take down Mantises of the same size too, but its only a matter of who sees who first.

[@AfterAllWeAreHuman]

Nature Of Wild i see them from time to time. moths, bees, aphids, kaytdid juveniles/nymphs. all prey items for these fellas.

[@AfterAllWeAreHuman]

7DARKHELLS oh yes... but usually it is a struggle. mostly with female mantids. Wolf spiders and jumpers ought to be cautious too.

[@jordanbanks1154]

I see these guys in my backyard all the time in southeast va . They always fly away from people tho not very aggressive it seems

[@user-ck3bo8wd4p]

Thank you for this video! Was looking through Wikipedia for an insect to write a paper about for my entomology class and robber flies stood out. This video sealed that selection! Definitely a cool insect!

[@elijahkelley7616]

I saw one of these the other day, and it honestly terrified me.

[@toniclark7093]

Mr. Blair...you sir, are an awesome teacher!! I learn new things with every one of your videos!! Keep them coming!!

[@rbair2285]

Great shots, great info. I love the comparison of a deer getting impaled with a traffic cone. I have a new favorite bug

[@FaceTheSound.]

Loved this! Great work, and beautiful shots.

[@allieROFL]

Best robber fly video out there! Thanks Mike.

[@MineCraftGuy11]

Damn nature you scary

[@kevinm8865]

More like "Family Guy"!

[@Diogmetes]

Wow, man. I've never seen Diogmites courting like that. Great work, sir!

[@diddlysquater]

Great footage! This is as informative as it is awe inspiring!

[@AmericanDad6249]

Thank you for the info share. I live in AL and ice seen this fly since childhood and now I'm 41 and have just learned the name . So thank you from AL

[@villedocvalle]

Great stuff, thank you!

[@bugtalk84]

Robber flies are like the hawks of the insect world.

[@derrickswinney2297]

I enjoyed this content very much thanks.

[@d.k.1394]

Great video work

[@terrance3218]

I had always seen these things during the summer but never knew what they were until last year.

[@captainjurgh8142]

Nice you named one of the Robber Flies Robert.

[@derloopkat]

well done robber fly on getting rid of these nasty flies

[@hahahaaha7208]

The clearwing moth did nothing wrong :(

[@AKSBSU]

@@hahahaaha7208 They also go after wasps and large flies that are pests.

[@BC-kx5zb]

A Robber fly, robs flys, when they fly near Rob.

[@JC-je3jc]

I hope reincarnation isn't a thing, bc if I have to come back any type of prey to this thing, I'd rather just disappear forever.

[@pimparoo]

i think it beats dying to a mantis at least. dont have to get eaten alive by a monster slowly and painfully nibbling away at every inch of your face. just get stabbed with a giant lethal injection instead.

[@adamdalgleish8769]

2:27 "Then they put their butts together."

[@zelvin5147]

I had to get one out of my car the other day. At first I thought it was a wasp

[@sexybribri123]

Max Ratliff that was me today lol

[@Sluggii]

My first time seeing one of these irl was watching it take a bumble bee I was watching out of the air, second was the same day with one on my window so I could look at it up close without being afraid of a bite. I'm pretty sure my stepdad got bit by one recently while mowing the lawn, he didn't see it but he said the bite was worse than any bee or wasp sting he'd felt and we didn't really see the little guys around here til last summer

[@mobilelegendsfanpage8412]

Never seen this one before, from where I grew up, there’s only dragonfly

[@HoundofOdin]

Robber fly > dragonfly

[@notarmchairhistorian7779]

"Even hummingbirds" Ah yes. The nopes are evolving.

[@morenteria2988]

I'm looking at a Robber Fly as I watch this interesting video. He just resting on the ground and had to look up this interesting creator.

[@StarlightEater]

Great video sir happy holidays

[@welder1357]

I went to Ace Hardware today and saw a Robber fly in the store. okay so what one might say I thought it was interesting and so did the associates that it chose to sit and wait patiently on top of a honey bee hive starter kit. the Box had very good graphics on it. growing up I always heard them referred to as bee killers.

[@thehappytriceratops2822]

I had to look this up after seeing a few in my yard.

[@mosterchife6045]

They're like wasps, but they're not absolute assholes all the while being awesome

[@mizomint4197]

I'm imagining this guy describing scenes from horror films with the same tone and music. XD

[@akkadianrecords3709]

It’s like death metal scenes but happy hardcore music.

[@carson5676]

I say this on my deck railing as it was holding what looked like a wasp! IDK if it was a large fly because when I tried to get closer to it, it flew away with a loud buzzing noise

[@beccadolls]

I just found one of these in my garden, how cool

[@justinlaschinsky6354]

Your voice with this music sounds like your going to eventually advertise beer to me

[@jmcsquared18]

Holy nutsack I will never complain about a house fly getting into my house again. Good gravy this thing is terrifying.

[@alejandroelluxray5298]

Hey, this guy could very well help you when you have flies in your house

[@VictorFursov]

Nice flies, really. :)

[@EternalEmperorofZakuul]

Any reason why they started preying on other insects?

[@maxymax4212]

*Human vs RobberFly?* *who will win?*

[@hahahaaha7208]

O_O...we should just be greatfull it bares no interest in us.

[@CheifSmokinDank]

I've always wanted to see one of these Robber flies take on a giant Hornet. My money would be on the Robber fly

[@blindfoldedmissile]

*I got stung by it yesterday. It only feels like someone touches you with a cigarette and then your hand vibrates for about 20 minutes. It's harmless and one of the cutest insects!*

[@christopherparks4342]

†StRaIgHtFoRwArD† [CZ3] i caught one today, after learning what it was, he is now my friend. I hate flies, i will give this predator a good home with many prey

[@blindfoldedmissile]

That's cool.

[@rakkstabber1536]

Cool.

[@nicholaswhitman4620]

*bit

[@necroinsane7553]

Music name?

[@AKSBSU]

I have to say the insect predators would be absolutely terrifying if they were large enough to consider us to be on the menu between dragonflies, robber flies, wasps, assassin bugs, mantids, and other nasty predatory and parasitic bugs.

[@VictorFursov]

It would be interesting to see egg masses of robber flies. :)

[@NP-ux9xg]

"Robert Fly"

[@carlosfranciscocardoso]

Scientists believe the robber fly's mating behavior means they are either begging to mate, which the female takes pity and concedes, or praying to their unseen robber fly God, which some believe resides in Africa.

[@grndragon7777777]

Had a compost pile and one of these guys showed up

[@admiralcat3809]

Noooo not the hummingbird hawkmoth!!! Their so cute!

[@larrydouglas2820]

The 20 dislikes are snowberry clearwings who didn't appreciate the unsympathetic narration.

[@indiandogbreed8010]

Dragonfly awesome

[@5oclockshadowbanned154]

Got bit by one. Left a grey dot on my calve for 4yrs,

[@mrfizzlebutt]

You should like Champ Kind.

[@chr0min0id]

Hawk moth: **causally flying enjoying itself** Me: *:D* Hawk moth: **gets tackled by robber fly and dies** Me: *D:*

[@Sand_Man312]

3:12 rip damselfly

[@kathrynshockey5537]

damselflies have a longer abdomen and they don’t have their abdomen like that

[@Sand_Man312]

@@kathrynshockey5537 exactly

[@7HatimF16]

who knew a fly can look so badass 3:59

[@kawaiidaiseymay7320]

I saw a robber fly

[@nisanurvarslsoy4983]

HE IS SO HUGE 😱😱😱😱😱😱

[@jeremygillespie5482]

Who else heard Robert flys?

[@tonyhowe6431]

They eat horseflies, horseflies hurt my dogs. Robber flies are ok by me lol

[@DeadPalooza]

I could have sworn one was on my car window licking off the tree sap

[@twasbrillig33]

Robert Flies 04:51

[@HIR0mtz]

They look like giant mosquitoes

[@mckeen771]

It's like getting in a car wreck and having your guts flying all over the windshield, that's what it would feel like being eaten by a Robber fli haha that would be funny if he said that.

[@sprite5602]

One of the few predators are spiders and dragonflies

[@RyanMartinezUkulelelessons]

I thought these flies were stupid because I could poke them and they didn't care unlike any other fly i've ever seen. It turns out it's just because they're Ungodly death machines

[@sonicmagnus5312]

🐞 🕷🐜 heaven and hell so, how did you end up here? Robber🪰 robbed me of my life

[@sweetheartsmisery]

i don’t think iv ever hated a bug more than this thing. it’s just so ugly. I don’t know how to explain it but it grossed me out unlike other bugs. just something about this specific insect. anyway I’m 6 years late, but nice video!

[@AnotherCatLady-]

I'm like that with house centipedes. They give me the creeps and I love most other bugs and insects. 🤢

[@theactualtruth4951]

EW GROSS!! THAT'S BRUTAL!! HE'S BASICALLY DRACULA/THE CREEPER

[@sweetheartsmisery]

ugly ass thing found it’s way inside my house. literally screamed like i was being killed as it flew around me. thing was absolutely giant. could hear and feel it vibrate when i caught it with a paper napkin. flushed it’s still alive body down the toilet.

[@patriciasanchez9320]

Do they eat Hornets

[@EternalEmperorofZakuul]

I've seen an image of a robberfly being torn apart by a Hornet

[@pimparoo]

There's a video of one wrangling and killing a hornet by itself. It's probably one of those equal matchups of whatever catches the other first wins.

[@kathrynshockey5537]

robberfly wins

[@rm25088]

they are easy to identify because of the beard.

[@CyberRabid.]

That "beak" is called a proboscis. I enjoyed your video.

[@AmericanDad6249]

Robber fly not rubber fly

[@Ilovecats64705]

0:11 NOT a robber fly that is a humming bird clearwing moth plz like this so other people see!!!!!

[@pimparoo]

did you even watch the video before you posted this? he clearly says which bug is which.

[@ernestcook7691]

I have had as high as 5 robber flies at one time in my yard working on catching honey bees.

[@militarycomparisonspower7737]

Robberflies are nasty they Robberflies are also prey for animals, Robberflies will fall prey to Birds, Bats, Lizards, Toads, Large spiders, Robberflies also fall prey to insects Such as Dragonflies, Damseflies, Crickets, Wasps, Bees, Beetles, Butterflies, Moths, Ants, Grasshoppers, Mayflies, Damseflies, Lacewings, Robberflies will fall prey to these animals

[@crystaloffrost]

The cute music and brutal violence in video..