These Insects Rob for Food, Not Money

Robber fly

Human history has had its share of infamous robbers. In the United States, Jesse James, Bonnie and Clyde, and John Dillinger come to mind. England was home to Robin Hood and Dick Turpin; individuals who it is said sometimes helped themselves to the money of others.

In the interest of full disclosure, to my knowledge, the English outlaw Dick Turpin is not one of my ancestors. While being related to a legendary robber might not seem to be a good thing, in this case, it does have its perks. People with the surname Turpin are sometimes given a free drink at Dick Turpin British pubs!

 Robber fly eating Japanese beetle

The insect world also harbors a band of robbers. Called robber flies, these insects are just as ruthless as robbers of the human kind. But robbers of the insect kind are after food, not money.  <Read More>


Home Invaders of the Six-legged Kind

Dr. Tom Turpin
Professor of Entomology
Purdue University

It happens every year about this time. I refer of course to the arrival of fall. It is an appropriately named season. Leaves fall from trees. Football teams fall from the ranks of the unbeaten. Nuts, apples and acorns fall from their nurturing boughs. Petals fall from the last flowers. And temperatures fall from the highs of summer. All of this falling stuff means that winter is on the way.....  <Read More >