The massive diversity of invertebrate species in British Columbia makes it very difficult for entomologists to do a literature or collection survey to determine which species are endangered or threatened. Specialized, detailed surveys will be required for almost every species that is suspected of being endangered. Despite a general ignorance about invertebrate distribution, information is known about a number of species that are confined to threatened habitats of very limited extent in the Thompson-Okanagan valleys. Like all robber flies, they capture their prey in their bristly legs and kill it with toxic saliva injected through their short proboscis. The dissolved tissues are then sucked back up through the proboscis.
Flies exhibit complete metamorphosis .
The larvae of many species are soft, legless, and headless. They are called maggots and live in soil, decaying material, or as parasites of vertebrates, snails, or other insects. All rights reserved.