Robber fly.

aka Assassin Fly. I'm never happy when I see them scoping out an area. It seems like they're more interested in my bees, wasps, and butterflies than Japanese beetles. And they are of zero help with aphids, mites, and whitefly.....my primary pests.

They're scary looking, aren't they?

Robber fly...a beneficial...eats everything...appetite like a mantid.

Lol, and I take any mantid that I find in my gardens to elsewhere in the neighborhood. I've even sent them off with my husband to the campus where he works.

They just seem to go after the pollinators (bees, butterflies, moths, wasps) and could care less about any pests that I see.

I don't kill them, but am never happy to see them.

Wow....thank you all for the information....seems like a controversial insect....

Ians, not really controversial. Most people think of insects who are vigorous predators as beneficial but I don't. SOME are quite specific into what they will devour and can be trusted in my gardens, lol. But others, such as the Robber Fly and Praying mantid will grab anything that moves. That goes for Dragonflies, too! I've watched one grab a bee in the air while in mid flight!

Mantids will literally hide underneath a flower head in order to snatch the bees that come to visit. And if you ever see a strange pile of butterfly wings under a flower, you'll know that a praying mantis has been there. Just the wings, not the whole insect.

I keep an eye out on my hummingbird feeder, too.

But, they also go after the pesky things too, like Japanese beetles. It just doesn't seem to balance out in my gardens. If only they would attack aphids, lol.

I see your point of view.... rhizo_1.....

Thank you