Wild Wonders of Europe / Ziegler / Robber flies (Asilidae) mating, one with insect prey, The Peloponnese, Greece, May 2009

Wild Wonders of Europe / Smit / Robber fly (Asilidae) with mosquito prey hanging from leaf, Gornje Podunavlje Special Nature Reserve, Serbia, June 2009

Piotr Naskrecki / Ogre-faced Spider (Deinopis sp) do not wait passively for an insect to fall into their web, instead, they cast sticky nets, La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica

Nick Upton / Striped slender robber fly (Leptogaster cylindrica) with insect prey, Corfe Common, Dorset, UK, July.

Rod Williams / Kite-tailed robberfly (Machimus atricapillus) Hutchinson's Bank, New Addington, London, England, UK. August.

Nick Upton / Golden-haired robber fly (Choerades marginatus) sunning on a leaf, a nationally scarce species in the UK, Wiltshire, UK, July.

Nick Upton / Golden-haired robber fly (Choerades marginatus) pair mating on a leaf, a nationally scarce species in the UK, Ancient woodland, Wiltshire, UK, July.

Doug Wechsler / Robber fly (Asilidae) with male leafcutter ant prey, Jorupe Reserve, Ecuador.

Doug Wechsler / Robber fly (Efferia albibarbis) on white background, St. Jones Reserve, Delaware, USA, June.

Doug Wechsler / Robber fly (Efferia albibarbis) on white background, St. Jones Reserve, Delaware, USA, June.

Andy Sands / Common red-legged robberfly (Dioctria rufipes) on leaf waiting to ambush fly prey, Bedfordshire, England, UK, May

Bernard Castelein / Roberfly (Asilidae) with lacewing prey, Brasschaat, Belgium

Hanne & Jens Eriksen / Robber fly (Apoclea femoralis) with prey, June, Oman

Nick Upton / Hornet robberfly (Asilus crabroniformis) male perched on a stick scanning for prey, Picos de Europa mountains, Asturias, Spain, August.

Kim Taylor / Robber fly (Laphria flava). Italy, July

Andy Sands / Hornet robberfly (Asilus crabroniformis) on dung, the larvae feed on dung beetle larvae, Surrey, England, UK, August - UK BAP Biodiversity Action Plan Species

Andy Sands / Hornet robberfly (Asilus crabroniformis) Perched in Silver Birch tree, Surrey, England, UK, August - UK BAP Biodiversity Action Plan Species

John Abbott / Robber fly (Efferia prob. snowi) female Travis County, Texas, USA. Controlled conditions. April

Bernard Castelein / Robber fly (Eutolmus rufibarbis) De Inslag, Brasschaat, Belgium July

Stephen Dalton / Crab spider (Synema globosum) female feeding on Robber fly (Asilidaea) male above, Exremadura, Spain

Rod Williams / Stripe-legged robberfly (Dioctria baumhaueri) on leaf, Brockley cemetery, Lewisham, London, England, May.

Bernard Castelein / Robberfly (Eutolmus rufibarbis) on Cornflower (Centaurea cyanus), De Inslag, Brasschaat, Belgium, June.

Konrad Wothe / Robber fly (Asilidae) with prey (ant) in rainforest, Asilidae, Panguana Reserve, Huanuca province, Amazon basin, Peru.

Chien Lee / Robber Fly (Asilidae) predating on Stilt-legged Fly (Micropezidae), Sama Jaya Nature Reserve, Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia

Andy Sands / Hornet robberfly (Asilus crabroniformis) sitting with wings open on heathland ground, Surrey, England, UK. August

Andy Sands / Hornet robberfly (Asilus crabroniformis) sitting with wings open on heathland ground, Surrey, England, UK. August

Rod Williams / Kite-tailed robberfly (Machimus atricapillus) with prey, Denbies Hillside, near Dorking, Surrey, UK, September.

Jussi Murtosaari / Robberfly (Asilidae) feeding on prey, Korpilahti, Jyvaskya, Keski-Suomi, Lansi- ja Sisa-Suomi / Central and Western Finland, Finland. June

Jussi Murtosaari / Robberyfly (Asilidae) Parikkala, Etela-Karjala / South Karelia, Etela-Suomi / South Finland, Finland. July

John Abbott / Robber Fly (Laphria sp.) flying, Missoula County, Montana, USA, July.

John Abbott / Robber Fly (Laphria sp.) flying, Missoula County, Montana, USA, July.

Bernard Castelein / Robber fly (Eutolmus rufibarbis) on poppy (Papaver sp) seed head, Klein Schietveld, Brasschaat, Belgium, June.

Bernard Castelein / Robber fly (Eutolmus rufibarbis) on poppy (Papaver sp) seed head, Klein Schietveld, Brasschaat, Belgium, June.

Bernard Castelein / Robber fly (Eutolmus rufibarbis) on poppy (Papaver sp) seed head, Klein Schietveld, Brasschaat, Belgium, June.

Bernard Castelein / Encounter between Robber fly (Eutolmus rufibarbis) and Crab spider (Xysticus audax) on a dew-covered thistle, Inslag, Brasschaat, Belgium, July.

Bernard Castelein / Encounter between Robber fly (Eutolmus rufibarbis) and Crab spider (Xysticus audax) on a dew-covered thistle, Inslag, Brasschaat, Belgium, July.

Bernard Castelein / Encounter between Robber fly (Eutolmus rufibarbis) and Crab spider (Xysticus audax) on a dew-covered thistle, Inslag, Brasschaat, Belgium, July.

MYN / Clay Bolt / Robber Fly (Mallophora fautrix) Southern Appalachians, South Carolina, United States, July. Meetyourneighbours.net project

MYN / Clay Bolt / Robber Fly (Mallophora fautrix) Southern Appalachians, South Carolina, United States, July. Meetyourneighbours.net project

MYN / Clay Bolt / Robber Fly (Mallophora fautrix) Southern Appalachians, South Carolina, United States, July. Meetyourneighbours.net project

MYN / Clay Bolt / Robber Fly (Mallophora fautrix) Southern Appalachians, South Carolina, United States, July. Meetyourneighbours.net project

Andy Sands / Robberfly (Leptogaster cylindrica) in early morning dew, Hertfordshire, England, UK. July. Focus stacked image.

Stephen Dalton / Robberfly (Asilidae) profile, Sussex, England, UK, July.

Bernard Castelein / Robberfly (Asilidae) on plant stalk, Peerdsbos, Brasschaat, Belgium

Bernard Castelein / Robberfly (Asilidae) on plants stalk, Peerdsbos, Brasschaat, Belgium

Nick Upton / Fan-bristled Robberflies (Dysmachus trigonus) mating on sandy path through on coastal heathland, Studland, Dorset, UK, July.

Chien Lee / Fungus (Ophiocordyceps dipterigena) parasitic mushrooms emerging from robber fly after it has consumed its interior, Tangkoko Nature Reserve, Indonesia

Chien Lee / Robber Fly (Asilidae), Gunung Mulu National Park, Borneo, Malaysia

Paul Harcourt Davies / Red-legged robberfly (Engelepogon brunnipes) with Damselfly (Zygoptera) prey, Sardinia, Italy, September

Paul Harcourt Davies / Red-legged robberfly (Engelepogon brunnipes) with Damselfly (Zygoptera) prey, Sardinia, Italy, September

Nick Upton / Slender-footed robberfly (Leptarthrus brevirostris) standing on Yellow rattle flower (Rhinanthus minor), chalk grassland meadow, Wiltshire, UK, June.

Nick Upton / Violet black-legged robber fly (Dioctria atricapilla) with a hoverfly as prey, chalk grassland meadow, Wiltshire, UK, June.

Nick Upton / Violet black-legged robber fly (Dioctria atricapilla) with Dashed slender robber fly (Leptogaster guttiventris) prey, chalk grassland meadow, Wiltshire, UK, June.

Wild Wonders of Europe / Muñoz / Robberfly (Asilidae) with damselfly prey, Campanarios de Azaba Biological Reserve, a rewilding Europe Area, Salamanc, Castilla y Leon, Spain

Wild Wonders of Europe / Muñoz / Robberfly (Asilidae) feeding on damselfly Campanarios de Azaba Biological Reserve, a rewilding Europe Area, Salamanc, Castilla y Leon, Spain

Alex Hyde / Robber Fly (Asilidae) overhead view photographed on a white background. Aosta Valley, Monte Rosa Massif, Pennine Alps, Italy. July.

Will Watson / Robberfly (Asiidae) with a captured skipper butterfly (Hesperidae), Manabi Province, Ecuador.

Claudio Contreras / Robber Fly (Diogmites sp.) hanging from leaf, feeding on fly prey. Maria Madre Island, Islas Marias Biosphere Reserve, Sea of Cortez (Gulf of California), Mexico, August.

Nick Upton / Robber fly (Saropogon sp) on twig, hunting for prey in amongst coastal vegetation, Samos, Greece, August.

Nick Upton / Robber fly (Saropogon sp) hunting for aerial prey on pebble beach, Samos, Greece, August.

Nick Upton / Robber fly (Saropogon sp) on twig, hunting for prey in amongst coastal vegetation, Samos, Greece, August.

John Abbott / Bee Like Robberfly (Laphria saffrana) feeding on a Burrowing Bug (Cydnidae), Big Creek Scenic Area, Sam Houston National Forest, Texas, USA

John Abbott / Robber fly (Efferia prob. snowi) female in flight, Wild Basin Preserve, Texas, USA, April

Nick Upton / A rare species of Robber fly (Pycnopogon mixtus) on coastal flower watching for aerial prey from a flower bud in coastal sand dunes, Lesbos (Lesvos), Greece, May.

John Abbott / Robber fly (Ommatius sp.) feeding on Acanaloniid planthopper, Neches River, Texas, USA, June

Konrad Wothe / Robber-fly (Asilidae) in rainforest, Mission Beach, near Innisfail, Queensland, Australia, October

Bernard Castelein / Robberfly (Asilidae) on discolouring dock leaf (Rumex acetosa), Brasschaat, Belgium, June

B&S Draker / Robber Fly (Asilidae) adult with butterfly prey. Starr County, Rio Grande Valley, Texas, USA.

Chien Lee / Robber Fly (Asilidae), Wasur National Park, Indonesia

Bernard Castelein / Robber fly (Asilidae) portrait on grass stem, Brasschaat, Belgium, July

Bernard Castelein / Robber fly (Asilidae) portrait on grass stem, Brasschaat, Belgium, July

James Christensen / Robber Fly (Asilidae) mimics Bees (Eulaema sp), Mindo, Ecuador

James Christensen / Robber Fly (Asilidae) mimics Bees (Eulaema sp), Mindo, Ecuador

Stephen Dalton / Robber fly (Asilidae) UK

James Christensen / Robber Fly (Asilidae) with prey, Mindo, Ecuador

James Christensen / Robber Fly (Asilidae) with beetle as prey, Mindo, Ecuador

Murray Cooper / Robber Fly (Asilidae) flying, Amazon, Ecuador

Stephen Dalton / Robber fly (Asilidae) in flight. UK

John Cancalosi / Robber fly (Asilidae, probably Efferia spp) Arizona, USA

John Cancalosi / Robber fly (Asilidae, probably Efferia spp) Arizona, USA

John Cancalosi / Robber fly (Asilidae, probably Efferia spp) Arizona, USA

John Cancalosi / Robber fly (Asilidae, probably Efferia spp) mating pair, Arizona, USA

Hanne & Jens Eriksen / Robber fly {Asilidae} pair mating, Oman

Hanne & Jens Eriksen / Robber fly {Asilidae} pair mating, Oman

Philippe Clement / Robber fly (Pogonioefferia nemoralis) portrait on rock. Arizona, USA

Rolf Nussbaumer / Robber Fly {Asilidae} adult with prey, Rio Grande Valley, Texas, USA, June 2006

Hans Christoph Kappel / Robber fly (Asilidae) with Damselfly prey. France

Mark Moffett / Robber Fly (Asilidae) close up, side view portrait, Panama

Piotr Naskrecki / Praying Mantis (Mantis sp) with Robber Fly, Dominican Republic

Kim Taylor / Giant robber fly (unidentified) Trinidad, captive

Kim Taylor / Cutout of Robber fly {Asilidae} Gambia.

Dietmar Nill / Robber fly {Asilidae} on flower, Bulgaria

Dietmar Nill / Robber flies {Asilidae} mating and feeding on cockchafer beetle Bulgaria

Bernard Castelein / Robber fly {Asilidae} Belgium

Solvin Zankl / Robber fly {Asilidae} feeding on fly. Sulawesi, Indonesia

Michael & Patricia Fogden / Ogre-faced Spider (Deinopis sp) in rainforest, Costa Rica