Florida Bee Killers: Mallophora

Three large predaceous robber flies of the genus Mallophora occur in Florida. Mallophora bomboides (Wiedemann) is known as the “Florida bee killer”; M. orcina (Wiedemann) as the “southern bee killer”; and M. nigra Williston as the “black bee killer” (Bromley 1950). Two other species have been recorded from Florida: M. rex Bromley and M. chrysomela Bromley. Structurally, there is nothing to distinguish them from M. bomboides (Wiedemann), and they are considered to be color variants of the latter. Also, M. nigra Williston may be merely a wholly-black color variant of M. bomboides (Cole and Pritchard 1964). At least 20 species in 7 genera of asilid flies in the southeastern United States prey on various Hymenoptera, including honey bees (Apis mellifera L.). Of these, M. orcina is the most prominent, with 80% or more of its diet comprised of honey bees (Bromley 1946). Instances of economic losses to beekeepers due to the depredations of asilid bee killers are sporadic, but Florida is one of the few states where such losses have been reported (Bromley 1950).