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69-461: Leptogastrinae is a subfamily of robber flies in the family Asilidae . There are more than 450 described species in Leptogastrinae. This article related to members of the fly family Asilidae is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Robber fly The Asilidae are the robber fly family, also called assassin flies . They are powerfully built, bristly flies with

138-651: A raptorial function. The wings are well developed, often relatively narrow for speedy flight; the alula is generally well developed, with the exception of the Leptogastrinae and part of Dasypogoninae. The venation is much as in the Rhagionidae , Tabanidae , and Therevidae; the radial R is always four-branched, with R2+3 unbranched. Details of wing venation determine subfamilies and lower taxa. The wings are most often hyaline, but sometimes smoky or dark colored, or partly infuscated in many genera or completely darkened. The abdomen consists of six to eight visible segments preceding

207-448: A convex profile with a characteristic dense bundle of bristles, called a "mystax". The mystax helps protect the head and face when the fly encounters prey bent on defense. Other bristles are arranged on the ocellar tubercle. The antennae are of the aristate type, composed typically of five segments but sometimes from three to four, depending on the structure of the stylus. The scape and pedicel are generally relatively short and hairy;

276-465: A food canal, the labrum and a piercing organ, the hypopharynx . The proboscis is rounded in cross section or laterally or dorsoventrally compressed and is usually stout, and straight and sometimes able to penetrate through the hard integument of Coleoptera. The maxillary palpi are at the base beside the labium, two-segmented in all Dasypogoninae or single segmented in Asilinae and Leptogastrinae. The thorax

345-444: A newborn, it may represent a diaphragmatic hernia . In general, it is indicative of malnutrition . Many gastrointestinal diseases affect the abdominal organs. These include stomach disease , liver disease , pancreatic disease , gallbladder and bile duct disease; intestinal diseases include enteritis , coeliac disease , diverticulitis , and irritable bowel syndrome . Different medical procedures can be used to examine

414-466: A short, stout proboscis enclosing the sharp, sucking hypopharynx . The name "robber flies" reflects their expert predatory habits; they feed mainly or exclusively on other insects and, as a rule, they wait in ambush and catch their prey in flight. The Asilidae are a family in the order Diptera , the true flies. The common name for members of the family is the robber flies. The Asilidae are cosmopolitan , with over 7000 described species . Latreille

483-425: A suitable size. Some Asilidae do, however, specialize in smaller prey, and this is reflected in their more gracile build. In general, the family attacks a very wide range of prey, including other flies, beetles , butterflies and moths , various bees , ants , dragonflies and damselflies , ichneumon wasps , grasshoppers , and some spiders . They do so apparently irrespective of any repugnatorial chemicals

552-681: A sword-like ovipositor . Others, for instance Laphria , are fat-bodied bumblebee mimics. Female robber flies deposit whitish-colored eggs on low-lying plants and grasses, or in crevices within soil, bark, or wood. Egg-laying habits depend on the species and their specific habitat; most species lay their eggs in masses, which are then covered with a chalky protective coating. After hatching, robber fly larvae generally seem to live in soil, rotting wood, leaf mold, and similar materials, some being predatory and others detrivorous . Larvae are also predacious, feeding on eggs, larvae, or other soft-bodied insects. Robber flies overwinter as larvae and pupate in

621-506: A usually dense moustache of stiff bristles on the face; this is called the mystax , a term derived from the Greek mystakos meaning "moustache" or "upper lip". The mystax has been suggested to afford some protection for the head and face when the flies deal with struggling prey ; various Asilidae prey on formidable species including stinging Hymenoptera , powerful grasshoppers , dragonflies and even other Asilidae, in fact practically anything of

690-462: Is amphineustic, with two pairs of spiracles , one thoracic and one abdominal. Also, rudimentary and nonfunctional stigmata occur in other abdominal segments. The pupa is naked, as in the majority of the Orthorrhapha, exarate and therefore able to move. The Asilidae are predators , in both the juvenile and the adult stages, and feed on small arthropods, mainly insects. Although predatory forms in

759-407: Is fixed, they can pull up the pelvis and finally, they can bend the vertebral column sideways and assist in the trunk's rotation. The transverse abdominis muscle is the deepest muscle; therefore, it cannot be touched from the outside. It can greatly affect the body's posture. The internal obliques are also deep and also affect body posture. Both of them are involved in rotation and lateral flexion of

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828-435: Is flat and triangular, with its fibers running horizontally. It lies between the internal oblique and the underlying transverse fascia . It originates from the inguinal ligament, costal cartilages 7-12, the iliac crest and thoracolumbar fascia. Inserts into the conjoint tendon, xiphoid process , linea alba and the pubic crest. The rectus abdominis muscles are long and flat. The muscle is crossed by three fibrous bands called

897-415: Is followed by the injection of saliva, whose active components perform two functions: neurotoxins cause paralysis of the victim, while proteolytic enzymes lead to the breakup and liquefaction of internal tissues. In a short time, the predator is able to feed by sucking the internal fluids through the alimentary canal. With regards to interspecific trophic relationships, a large number of reports exists on

966-407: Is generally elongated, due to the conformation of the long tapering abdomen , however there are also compact species with broad abdomens. The integument is covered with thick hair, especially on the head and thorax and liveries are often showy, with colors ranging from brown to black to grey, sometimes in contrast with other colors such as red and yellow. Frequently they are aposematic , imitating

1035-417: Is important to properly exercise the abdominal muscles together with the back muscles because when these are weak or overly tight they can suffer painful spasms and injuries . When properly exercised, abdominal muscles contribute to improved posture and balance, reduce the likelihood of back pain episodes, reduce the severity of back pain, protect against injury, help avoid some back surgeries, and help with

1104-516: Is lower in forested ecosystems, and where asilids do occur in such environments, they tend to concentrate in the glades and margins. In those conditions, the interrupted canopy leaves space for various species of shrubs and herbaceous plants suited to asilid styles of predation. In general, the biology of the Asilidae is still poorly known, but various authors have studied the population distribution in particular regions and ecosystems. They have classified

1173-492: Is robust and compact. Unlike in other lower Brachycera, it bears long bristles (macrochaeta) useful as taxonomic characters. Bristles of this type are always present on the notopleuron (notopleural bristles) and, in two series, on mesonotum (dorsocentral, supralar and postalar). Other bristles are present on the metanotum (dorsocentral bristles on the ventral episternum and at the apex of the mesoscutellum. The legs are relatively long and strong, with many macrochaetes performing

1242-472: Is smooth or bears microsculptures , which are generally polygonal and visible only in the electron microscope. The larva is apodous, cylindrical, and elongated, more or less flattened dorsoventrally and tapered at the cephalic and caudal ends. The colour is white or yellowish. The head is small, rugged, dark-pigmented and hypognathous, the abdomen is composed of eight apparent urites, with the last two often fused and more or less reduced. The respiratory system

1311-408: Is the muscle that very fit people develop into "six-pack" abs, though there are five vertical sections on each side. The two bottom sections are just above the pubic bone and usually not visible. The rectus abdominals' function is to bend one's back forward (flexion). The main work of the abdominal muscles is to bend the spine forward when contracting concentrically. Social and cultural perceptions of

1380-453: Is to draw three horizontal and two vertical lines. The two vertical or mid-Poupart lines are drawn from the point midway between the anterior superior spine and the pubic symphysis on each side, vertically upward to the costal margin. The right subcostal margin corresponds to the lower limit of the liver , while the right nipple is about half an inch above its upper limit. The abdomen can be divided into quadrants or regions to describe

1449-527: The Lepidoptera and the Symphyta (sawflies) have fleshy appendages called prolegs on their abdominal segments (as well as their more familiar thoracic legs), which allow them to grip onto the edges of plant leaves as they walk around. In arachnids (spiders, scorpions and relatives), the term "abdomen" is used interchangeably with " opisthosoma " ("hind body"), which is the body section posterior to that bearing

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1518-407: The hip . All of their fibers merge towards the midline and surround the rectus abdominis in a sheath before joining up on the opposite side at the linea alba . Strength is gained by the criss-crossing of fibers, such that the external oblique runs downward and forward, the internal oblique upward and forward, and the transverse abdominal horizontally forward. The transverse abdominal muscle

1587-414: The linea alba in the abdominal wall. At about its midpoint sits the umbilicus or navel . The rectus abdominis on each side of the linea alba stands out in muscular people. The outline of these muscles is interrupted by three or more transverse depressions indicating the tendinous intersections . There is usually one about the xiphoid process, one at the navel, and one in between. It is the combination of

1656-435: The navel . Functionally, the human abdomen is where most of the digestive tract is placed and so most of the absorption and digestion of food occurs here. The alimentary tract in the abdomen consists of the lower esophagus , the stomach , the duodenum , the jejunum , ileum , the cecum and the appendix , the ascending , transverse and descending colons , the sigmoid colon and the rectum . Other vital organs inside

1725-406: The spine and are used to bend and support the spine from the front. The external obliques are more superficial and are also involved in rotation and lateral flexion of the spine. They also stabilize the spine when upright. The rectus abdominis muscle is not the most superficial abdominal muscle. The tendonous sheath extending from the external obliques cover the rectus abdominis. The rectus abdominis

1794-403: The stomach , the small intestine , and the colon with its attached appendix . Other digestive organs are known as the accessory digestive organs and include the liver , its attached gallbladder , and the pancreas , and these communicate with the rest of the system via various ducts. The spleen , and organs of the urinary system including the kidneys , and adrenal glands also lie within

1863-413: The tendinous intersections . The rectus abdominis is enclosed in a thick sheath, formed as described above, by fibers from each of the three muscles of the lateral abdominal wall. They originate at the pubis bone , run up the abdomen on either side of the linea alba, and insert into the cartilages of the fifth, sixth, and seventh ribs. In the region of the groin , the inguinal canal , is a passage through

1932-761: The 12th edition (1767). Asilus crabroniformis (1758) is the type of the genus. The rank of family is credited to Leach in Samouelle (1819). Johan Christian Fabricius in five publications dated from 1775 to 1805, erected the genus Damalis and described 76 exotic and European species. Wiedemann , in publications appearing between 1817 and 1830, described 235 species, many exotic. Johann Wilhelm Meigen in an early work of 1803 erected four genera, three of which now represent subfamilies. He also described many species in Systematische Beschreibung der bekannten europäischen zweiflügeligen Insekten (1800 to 1838). During

2001-415: The 19th century, based on the findings of larvae of asilids associated with larvae of other insects, but Melin (1923) asserted that, in reality, predation was occasional and secondary to the plant-based diet. More recent studies have confirmed the entomophagy of some asilids without extending this species' feeding behavior for the whole family. Less certain, however, is the mechanism of entomophagy: in general,

2070-515: The Asilidae the depression on the vertex between the eyes tends to be more obvious than in the Therevidae. The fly attacks its prey by stabbing it with its short, strong proboscis, injecting the victim with saliva containing neurotoxic and proteolytic enzymes which very rapidly paralyze the victim and soon digest the insides; the fly then sucks the liquefied material through the proboscis. Many Asilidae have long, tapering abdomens , sometimes with

2139-431: The abdomen include the liver , the kidneys , the pancreas and the spleen . The abdominal wall is split into the posterior (back), lateral (sides), and anterior (front) walls. The abdominal muscles have different important functions. They assist as muscles of exhalation in the breathing process during forceful exhalation . Moreover, these muscles serve as protection for the inner organs. Furthermore, together with

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2208-419: The abdomen is a large body cavity enclosed by the abdominal muscles, at the front and to the sides, and by part of the vertebral column at the back. Lower ribs can also enclose ventral and lateral walls. The abdominal cavity is continuous with, and above, the pelvic cavity. It is attached to the thoracic cavity by the diaphragm. Structures such as the aorta , inferior vena cava and esophagus pass through

2277-423: The abdomen, along with many blood vessels including the aorta and inferior vena cava . The urinary bladder , uterus , fallopian tubes , and ovaries may be seen as either abdominal organs or as pelvic organs. Finally, the abdomen contains an extensive membrane called the peritoneum . A fold of peritoneum may completely cover certain organs, whereas it may cover only one side of organs that usually lie closer to

2346-412: The abdominal organs. This is associated with a higher risk of heart disease , asthma and type 2 diabetes. Abdominal trauma is an injury to the abdomen and can involve damage to the abdominal organs. There is an associated risk of severe blood loss and infection . Injury to the lower chest can cause injuries to the spleen and liver. A scaphoid abdomen is when the abdomen is sucked inwards. In

2415-407: The abdominal wall. This is called the retroperitoneum , and the kidneys and ureters are known as retroperitoneal organs. There are three layers of muscles in the abdominal wall . They are, from the outside to the inside: external oblique , internal oblique , and transverse abdominal . The first three layers extend between the vertebral column , the lower ribs, the iliac crest and pubis of

2484-523: The adult stage are present in other taxonomic groups of Diptera, the Asilidae are the most representative for the number of species and for uniformity of feeding behavior (>7000 species, all of which are predatory). The combination of high biodiversity and high predatory activity leads to this family playing an important role in the ecological stability of entomofauna. The life cycle takes place in 1–3 years. The postembryonic development consists of four larval stages ( instars ) and one pupa. The larvae of

2553-407: The back muscles they provide postural support and are important in defining the form. When the glottis is closed and the thorax and pelvis are fixed, they are integral in the cough , urination , defecation , childbirth , vomit , and singing functions. When the pelvis is fixed, they can initiate the movement of the trunk in a forward motion. They also prevent hyperextension . When the thorax

2622-401: The behavior is cited as predation, but for some species may be ectoparasitoids. Musso (1983) described the feeding behavior of the larvae of Machimus rusticus : the larvae of the first instar does not feed on insects, those of the second instar feed on secretions by larvae of beetles (and may cause death), while the larvae of the third and fourth instars actually behave like predators. In short,

2691-593: The behavioral patterns in terms of microenvironments, ecological, and trophic factors, showing how different species of Asilidae favour particular habitats suited to particular patterns of reproduction and predation. Specific studies show correlations between the floristic composition and predatory behaviour. Asilidae occur in all zoogeographical regions except Antarctica. In the Northern Hemisphere, some species are even adapted to tundra. Alpine species occur at altitudes exceeding 4000 meters/13,000 feet. However,

2760-495: The bulbous gaster . The petiole and gaster (abdominal segments 2 and onward) are collectively called the metasoma . Unlike other arthropods, insects possess no legs on the abdomen in adult form, though the Protura do have rudimentary leg-like appendages on the first three abdominal segments, and Archaeognatha possess small, articulated "styli" which are sometimes considered to be rudimentary appendages. Many larval insects including

2829-458: The common honey bee . In the Collembola (springtails), the abdomen has only six segments. The abdomen is sometimes highly modified. In Apocrita (bees, ants and wasps), the first segment of the abdomen is fused to the thorax and is called the propodeum . In ants , the second segment forms the narrow petiole . Some ants have an additional postpetiole segment, and the remaining segments form

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2898-440: The concavity of the ileum. However, the term is in common usage. Abdominal organs can be highly specialized in some mammals. For example, the stomach of ruminants , (a suborder of mammals that includes cattle and sheep ), is divided into four chambers – rumen , reticulum , omasum and abomasum . In arthropods , the abdomen is built up of a series of upper plates known as tergites and lower plates known as sternites ,

2967-405: The detection of prey and their capture. The prey is caught with the tarsi and injected with a paralyzing saliva. The asilid pierces the integument of the prey with the prepharyx (hyopharynx) in preferential points of least resistance such as the eyes, the membranous area of transition between the head and thorax (neck) or between thorax and abdomen, or between the last abdominal tergites . Puncture

3036-432: The diaphragm. Both the abdominal and pelvic cavities are lined by a serous membrane known as the parietal peritoneum . This membrane is continuous with the visceral peritoneum lining the organs. The abdomen in vertebrates contains a number of organs belonging to, for instance, the digestive system , urinary system , and muscular system . The abdominal cavity contains most organs of the digestive system , including

3105-469: The family is Araripogon from the Early Cretaceous ( Aptian ) Crato Formation of Brazil.  ? Scenopinidae and Therevidae  ? Mydidae and Apioceridae  ? Asilidae   Bombyliidae Clade showing relationship of Asiloidea Carl Linnaeus (Linné; 1758), in the 10th edition of Systema Naturae , erected the genus Asilus , including 11 species, and added four others in

3174-527: The feeding behavior of larval asilids can be intermediate between predation and ectoparasitism. Much better known and described in detail is the behavior of adults. In general, predation in adults is concentrated in the hottest hours in open, sunny spaces, while at night, they take refuge in dense vegetation. The Asilidae are excellent flyers, and in most of the family, capture prey in flight. They are often seen stationed to ambush prey at strategic points. This behavior signifies that sight plays an essential role in

3243-514: The first instar differ from other stages in both ethology and trophic regime. The larvae of most known asilids live in the soil or in the case of some taxonomic groups, in rotting organic material, usually wood and the bark of dead trees. With regards to feeding behavior, most of the literature describes Asilidae larvae as entomophagous , but doubts remain about the real nature of the trophic regime and its mechanisms. The entomophagy of some species had indeed been already hypothesized by some authors of

3312-482: The genitalia in males, but the eighth segment is sometimes entirely or partially concealed, and terminal forming the ovipositor. It is long and narrow conical in most species, but wide, dorsoventrally flattened and short in bee mimics. In the Leptogastrinae, the abdomen is extremely long and slender. In some tribes, the male undergoes axial torsion of 180°. The egg is hyaline or pigmented and of variable shape from spherical to oval and up to 2 mm in length. The surface

3381-418: The healing of back problems, or after spine surgery. When strengthened, the abdominal muscles provide flexibility as well. The abdominal muscles can be worked by strength and fitness exercises, and through practicing disciplines of general body strength such as Pilates , yoga , tai chi , and jogging . Abdominal obesity is a condition where abdominal fat or visceral fat, has built up excessively between

3450-449: The highest levels of biodiversity are in warm climates; tropical or subtropical and arid or semi-arid regions tend to have the greatest variety of species, followed by areas where rainfall is highly seasonal. The Asilidae currently include over 7500 described species in about 556 genera . Their taxonomy is still under study in the light of new specimens and cladistic analysis. The 14 accepted subfamilies are: The oldest known member of

3519-408: The ilium to the spine of the pubis . These lower limits are marked by visible grooves. Just above the pubic spines on either side are the external abdominal rings, which are openings in the muscular wall of the abdomen through which the spermatic cord emerges in the male, and through which an inguinal hernia may rupture. One method by which the location of the abdominal contents can be appreciated

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3588-405: The layers. This gap is where the testes can drop through the wall and where the fibrous cord from the uterus in the female runs. This is also where weakness can form, and cause inguinal hernias . The pyramidalis muscle is small and triangular. It is located in the lower abdomen in front of the rectus abdominis. It originates at the pubic bone and is inserted into the linea alba halfway up to

3657-424: The linea alba and the tendinous intersections which form the abdominal "six-pack" sought after by many people. The upper lateral limit of the abdomen is the subcostal margin (at or near the subcostal plane ) formed by the cartilages of the false ribs (8, 9, 10) joining one another. The lower lateral limit is the anterior crest of the ilium and Poupart's ligament , which runs from the anterior superior spine of

3726-423: The livery of Hymenoptera. The head is free and mobile and dichoptic in both sexes and has three ocelli arranged in a characteristic depression formed by the elevation of the compound eyes . This feature is clearly visible in the front view and is a morphological peculiarity of Asilidae. The occipital region has one or more rows of bristles aligned behind the posterior margin of the eye. The facial region has

3795-406: The location of an organ or structure. Classically, quadrants are described as the left upper, left lower, right upper, and right lower. Quadrants are also often used in describing the site of an abdominal pain. The abdomen can also be divided into nine regions. These terms stem from "hypo" meaning "below" and "epi" means "above", while "chondron" means "cartilage" (in this case, the cartilage of

3864-436: The organs of the gastrointestinal tract. These include endoscopy , colonoscopy , sigmoidoscopy , enteroscopy , oesophagogastroduodenoscopy and virtual colonoscopy . There are also a number of medical imaging techniques that can be used. Surface landmarks are important in the examination of the abdomen . In the mid-line, a slight furrow extends from the xiphoid process above to the pubic symphysis below, representing

3933-440: The outward appearance of the abdomen has varying significance around the world. Depending on the type of society, excess weight can be perceived as an indicator of wealth and prestige due to excess food, or as a sign of poor health due to lack of exercise. In many cultures, bare abdomens are distinctly sexualized and perceived similarly to breast cleavage . Being key elements of spinal support, and contributors to good posture, it

4002-425: The pelvis at the pelvic brim . The pelvic brim stretches from the lumbosacral joint (the intervertebral disc between L5 and S1 ) to the pubic symphysis and is the edge of the pelvic inlet . The space above this inlet and under the thoracic diaphragm is termed the abdominal cavity. The boundary of the abdominal cavity is the abdominal wall in the front and the peritoneal surface at the rear. In vertebrates,

4071-778: The predator. Egg-laying takes place, according to the species, with three different behaviors that relate to the structure and the morphology of the abdomen. Females with an undifferentiated ovipositor release eggs randomly and independently from the substrate. In other cases, however, the abdomen bears a differentiated, specialized ovipositor to lay eggs in the soil or sand, or lay them in cavities within plant tissues. Asilidae generally occur in habitats that are open, sunny, and dry, even arid. They favour open or scattered vegetation, and some species even frequent bare ground. Typical habitats include savannah , forest steppe , open steppe , semi desert , maquis shrubland , and related shrubland types such as fynbos and chaparral . Their biodiversity

4140-668: The prey captured by the Asilidae. Lavigne (2003) has developed a database comprising over 13,000 reports. The prey of Asilidae are predominantly represented by other insects, mostly winged, but several cases in which they have attacked spiders have also been reported. Within the insects, orders that include the most frequent prey of asilids include a wide range of families within the Coleoptera , Hymenoptera , other Diptera , Hemiptera , and Lepidoptera ; prey belonging to various other orders ( Odonata , Neuroptera , Isoptera , Thysanoptera , Blattodea , etc.) are also mentioned. With regards to

4209-433: The prey may have at their disposal. Many Asilidae when attacked in turn do not hesitate to defend themselves with their probosces and may deliver intensely painful bites to humans if handled incautiously. The antennae are short, have three segments, and sometimes bear a bristle-like structure called an arista . Though they are a very characteristic group for such a large family, the Asilidae may easily be confused with

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4278-407: The related and less widely known family Therevidae . Some points of contrast between the families include that the labium in the Therevidae is not a piercing, predatory organ, but ends in two fleshy labella adapted to the sucking of liquid foods. Again, the Therevidae commonly have fluffy setae above the mouthparts, unlike the stiff chaetae comprising the mystax of the Asilidae. Furthermore, in

4347-399: The rest of the 19th century, significant contributions were made by Hermann Loew in particular. Other prominent authors dealing with the Asilidae during the 19th century included Pierre-Justin-Marie Macquart , Francis Walker , Camillo Rondani , and Jacques-Marie-Frangile Bigot . Abdomen#Invertebrates In humans, the abdomen stretches from the thorax at the thoracic diaphragm to

4416-486: The rib) and "gaster" means stomach. The reversal of "left" and "right" is intentional, because the anatomical designations reflect the patient's own right and left .) The "right iliac fossa" (RIF) is a common site of pain and tenderness in patients who have appendicitis . The fossa is named for the underlying iliac fossa of the hip bone , and thus is somewhat imprecise. Most of the anatomical structures that will produce pain and tenderness in this region are not in fact in

4485-433: The soil. Pupae migrate to the soil surface and emerge as adults, often leaving behind their pupal casing. Complete development ranges from one to three years, depending on species and environmental conditions. Adults are generally medium to large in size, with an average body width of 1 to 1.5 cm (0.39 to 0.59 in), but with a range of 3 mm (0.12 in) to more than 5 cm (2.0 in) in length. The shape

4554-472: The specificity of the trophic relationship, Wood (1981) mentions some studies in the literature on the subject. Some genera have been found to be monophagic, but more generally Asilidae are polyphagic, with behaviors that vary from narrow specialization to broad prey choice. Other studies have shown that the ratio between the size of the prey and the asilid varies from 1.8:1 to 3.7:1, with an average of 2.6:1. The ratio tends to increase with decreasing size of

4623-434: The third segment (or first flagellomere) has an oval or oblong shape, is generally longer than the two basal segments, and bears a stylus generally composed of two segments, of which the basal is very short. In some asilids, the stylus can be monoarticolate or absent. The mouthparts are short and modified for piercing-sucking. They consist of a strongly sclerotized proboscis which includes the labium and maxillae which form

4692-415: The whole being held together by a tough yet stretchable membrane. In insects , the abdomen contains the insect's digestive tract and reproductive organs, it consists of eleven segments in most orders of insects though the eleventh segment is absent in the adult of most higher orders. The number of these segments does vary from species to species with the number of segments visible reduced to only seven in

4761-451: Was the authority for establishing the family in 1802. The Asilidae, together with Bombyliidae and Therevidae , are the most representative families of the superfamily of Asiloidea and they form one of the most characteristic groups of the lower Brachycera . Robber flies have stout, spiny legs and three simple eyes ( ocelli ) in a characteristic depression on the tops of their head between their two large compound eyes . They also have

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