#3886 · 🪰 flies & mosquitoes

violet black-legged robber fly

🇳🇱 Zwarte bladjager ·Dioctria atricapilla

🪰 Flies & mosquitoes 📍 in the Netherlands

10 photos from iNaturalist (Creative Commons) · credits & licences

1. Groesbeek, Nederland:© Herman Berteler · CC BY-NC 4.0
2. Ankeveen, Nederland:© dr. Werner de Gier · CC BY-NC 4.0
3. Schinveld, Nederland:© Co Waalen · CC BY-NC 4.0
4. Graafland, Groot-Ammers, Zuid-Holland, NL:© no rights reserved · CC0
5. 4121 KK Everdingen, Nederland:© Marleen Schouten · CC BY-NC 4.0
6. Noordwijkerhout, Nederland:© Michel Langeveld · CC BY 4.0
7. Netherlands:© Floris P · CC BY-NC 4.0
8. Terneuzen, Netherlands:© Remco Hofland · CC BY-NC 4.0
9. Groesbeek, Nederland:© Herman Berteler · CC BY-NC 4.0
10. 3732 HW De Bilt, Nederland:© Marsel · CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

what is it?

The violet black-legged robber fly , Dioctria atricapilla , is a species of robber fly in the subfamily Dasypogoninae. This 9- to 12-millimeter long insect has a wingspan of roughly 7 to 9 mm and short, three-segmented antennae. It's a predatory insect, feeding mainly on smaller flies and predatory hymenopterans. It primarily thrives in grassland, and is seen from May to July.

base stats

NL sightings 39iNaturalist, research grade
worldwide 1,101iNaturalist observations

Bars compare against all animals on log scales: up to 300,000 Dutch and 600,000 worldwide sightings (the most-seen species), 150 t (blue whale), 30 m and 400 years (Greenland shark).