Robber flies from Madagascar

[colin12303]

A couple of robber flies from Madagascar,sorry do not know the species

[johnnyboy]

The smaller fly on the left is Microstylum cilipes and the one on the right is probably, in view of its size and bulk, Proagonistes gigantipes. I have an M. cilipes in my collection, as well as a Proagonistes pliomelas (which grows the biggest of the genus) from West Africa.


Johnny

[colin12303]

Thanks for that.
I didn't have a clue

[bichos]

are those inches or cm???

[bichos]

Interesting specimens, they sure are ugly though. Some Robber flies can be quite spectacular.

Oh and just on Ebay here ase some flies from SA www.ebay.com.au/sch/castnia2011/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=&_trksid=p3686

[colin12303]

Jul 16, 2013 3:38:39 GMT -8 bichos said:

are those inches or cm???

I have got a funny answer for that.Better not though.
They are inches

[w1]

I've seen a Microstylum magnum specimen in person. Holy mackerel. There's an article on it in the diptera section of this forum.

[bichos]

holy mackerel indeed those magnums must be great fun to see and catch

found this on another big fly

www.brisbaneinsects.com/brisbane_robbers/GiantRobberFly.htm

[w1]

Yes! Another one on my life list! Thanks

[lucanidae25]

I've been collecting in Australia for more than 20 years, only ever caught one Phellus olgae female. I was looking for Pseudotaenia waterhousei west of Brisbane and came across a Phellus olgae sitting on a horizontal branch. They were feeding on Buprestidae twice as big as them but how do you catch a robber fly sitting on a horizontal branch? Luckily I made a slapping net myself with a lid that slaps open and shut. I waited the weather got cloudy and very slowly approached it from below, slapped shut the net and shaked the blanch till it droped down in the net. I still couldn't believed it till today that female let me approached her, maybe she has just laid her eggs and on the dying edge.

[w1]

Wow congrats. Pm me. Awesome.