Asilidae : Stichopogoninae

Stichopogon trifasciatus

Stichopogon trifasciatus has about the longest flight period of any Arkansas robber, coming out in the second week of May and continuing on through the second week of October, which is nice because it is a particularly charming fly. It often abounds in open sandy or rocky places, often but not always near water. It is a smallish fly, but easily identifiable because you can plainly see it has two black abdominal segments, then a blue-gray segment in the middle, followed by three more black segments. In good light the legs appear blueish. In its sandy or rocky haunts (a former quarry in Jonesboro, now part of The Nature Center, or in the riprap beside concrete boat landings or bridges) it is often accompanied by tiger beetles, and the two are about the same size and look rather similar flying up ahead of you as you walk.