Neoitamus melanopogon
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Neoitamus melanopogon | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Diptera |
| Family: | Asilidae |
| Genus: | Neoitamus |
| Species: | N. melanopogon |
| Binomial name | |
| Neoitamus melanopogon Schiner | |
Neoitamus melanopogon, commonly known by the name common robber fly, is a species of fly of Asilidae in the genus Neoitamus, found in both the principal islands of New Zealand.
The Northern common robber fly is an insect in the order of Diptera like flies and mosquitoes, so has 2 wings and 2 halteres used for stabilization. This allows it to stop and rollback really fast. It has a short proboscis with a piercing organ called hypopharynx to inject a neurotoxin to its preys.[1] A proboscis is a part of the insect mouth which is used to suck nectar or blood and usually its shape is tubular. With its claws, it can catch and its prey. It can measure until 15mm long. It has hairy legs and wide eyes that give it a good 3D vision. The male has a bulbous genital organ at the end of the abdomen and the female has a pointed back end at the abdomen which is corresponding at the male's genital organ.[2]
Distribution
Natural global range
This species is an endemic species of New Zealand.[3]
New Zealand range
This species can be found everywhere in both principal islands of New Zealand.[4]
Habitat preferences
It prefers grassland and silver tussock[5] to live, so can be found widely distributed across New Zealand.[6] It also lives in forest clearings on both islands.[7]