This large Robber fly (Blepharotes coriarius) turned up in my kitchen one afternoon. It was about 45-50mm long. It had the wierdest behaviour - It wanted to get out, but instead of beating it's body against the window in the manner a blowie might, it would face into the room (seemingly towards me) and, flying with it's legs wide apart, it moved up the glass pane keeping in touch with it's wings.
Tubelike mouth parts visible.
Vestigial second wing with hairy margin.
Wings folded flat in line with the abdomen.
Broad flat segmented abdomen.
This is the only specimen I've seen. I've borrowed "Australian Insects" by Keith McKeown, from the library. Fortunately it has a good (black and white) water colour rendition of the fly and describes it thus:
"The finest of all the Australian Asilidae. A very large black fly with the upper surface of its broad abdomen bright orange and tufted along the sides with patches of black and white hairs. The face is densely bearded. The wings are a rich smoky brown.
It is rather a common insect in inland districts, especially in the Riverina, where it rests on fence posts and tree trunks in the hot sunshine. It flies away with a loud buzz when disturbed, often bearing away its impaled prey."
