Who killed Cleopatra ?

[Chris Jackson]

Any idea regarding the identity of the assassin ? Asilinae ?
The victim is G. cleopatra, male.
South of France at 640 m altitude. West Var. Beginning July.

Thanks
Chris

[David M]

Gruesome!

Looks like some sort of robber fly.

[aeshna5]

Yes, it's a Hornet Robberfly.

[Chris Jackson]

Thank you David and aeshna,
It does resemble Asilus crabroniformis, thus Asile frelon in French and Hornet Robberfly in English.
Thanks a lot
Chris

[David M]

Amazing how something so small can take on and kill something so big.

[Sylvie_h]

Hi Chris,

Very nice picture. The Robberfly is Stenopogon Sabaudus (male).
They are vicious predators and can also catch dragonflies.
If you are interested, there is a very good identification guide : Field guide to the Robberflies of the Netherlands and Belgium (it covers Northern France also). Reinoud van den Broek and Andre Schulten. It has excellent photos and also some nice drawings as keys for identification.

Thanks for sharing.
Sylvie

[Chris Jackson]

Wow Sylvie,
That's a good response. It certainly looks good.
Thanks for the cue.
This is how the French have replied.
https://www.insecte.org/forum/viewtopic ... 4#p1715204

Merci pour ton efficacité.
Chris

[Sylvie_h]

De rien , ton Français est vraiment impeccable !
Sylvie

[David M]

De rien , ton Français est vraiment impeccable !

Thank heavens for that because he's a translator, Sylvie!

[Chris L]

Robber Fly. I am educated once again. I don't watch TV. Being on this forum and seeing photos like this and the conversation that flows from them is much better than TV.

I know it's nature but I did feel a bit of anger towards that Robber Fly.