Robber Fly

Open, sunny areas with plenty of perches, such as gardens, meadows, and forest edges.

Carnivorous. They are opportunistic predators that hunt other insects, including flies, bees, wasps, and beetles, often catching them in flight.

Known for their aggressive hunting style, they sit on perches and ambush prey mid-air. The photo shows a mating pair, where the male and female are linked tail-to-tail.

Beneficial as biological pest control by eating other annoying or harmful insects. While generally harmless to humans, they can deliver a painful bite if mishandled.