Common Awl Robberfly vs Scarce Awl Robberfly

Neoitamus cyanurus compared with Neoitamus cothurnatus

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Common Awl Robberfly	Scarce Awl Robberfly
Kingdom same	Animalia (hewan)	Animalia (hewan)
Phylum same	Arthropoda (Artropoda)	Arthropoda (Artropoda)
Class same	Insecta (serangga)	Insecta (serangga)
Order same	Diptera (lalat)	Diptera (lalat)
Family same	Asilidae	Asilidae
Genus same	Neoitamus	Neoitamus
Species	Neoitamus cyanurus	Neoitamus cothurnatus

Evolutionary Relationship

Common Awl Robberfly and Scarce Awl Robberfly share a common ancestor at the Genus level: Neoitamus.

Conservation Status

Common Awl Robberfly

LC — Least Concern

Scarce Awl Robberfly

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Common Awl Robberfly	Scarce Awl Robberfly
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Common Awl Robberfly

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

Distributed across Belgium, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.

Scarce Awl Robberfly

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

Distributed across Belgium, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.

Common Awl Robberfly

<em>Neoitamus cyanurus</em>, commonly known as the Common Awl Robberfly, is a predatory dipteran insect in the family Asilidae. This species is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List and is distributed across northern and western Europe, including Belgium, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. Like all robber flies, the Common Awl Robberfly is an active aerial predator that captures other flying insects in mid-flight, using its strong legs and piercing mouthparts to subdue and consume prey. Adults typically frequent open and semi-open habitats such as forest clearings, heathlands, and sunny woodland edges where prey insects are abundant. The larvae are believed to develop in soil or decaying wood, where they feed on other invertebrate larvae. Adults are typically observed perching on bare ground or low vegetation, from which they launch short, rapid flights to intercept passing prey. Their robust build, bristly body, and forward-pointing beak are characteristic features of the Asilidae family. Biological traits of this species remain poorly documented in the scientific literature.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 4 countries:

🇧🇪 Belgium 🇩🇰 Denmark 🇳🇴 Norway 🇸🇪 Sweden