Unidentified large fly

Asked August 25, 2020, 9:46 AM EDT

Saw this fly on our hummingbird feeder. Can you identify?

Thanks.

Frederick County Maryland

1 Response

This is a good guy, called a robber fly (family Asilidae).

Robber flies have voracious appetites and feed on a wide array

of other insects/spiders, which helps maintain a healthy balance

between insect populations. We generally see these flies in August

and September active in landscapes and nurseries.

Christine