Abstract: Dasypogon diadema (Fabricius, 1781) was studied intensively in 1995 in an area west of Darmstadt, Germany. Its behaviour, especially the method of oviposition, was recorded. The eggs are laid in clutches in the soil, each protected in sand "coccoon", a pehnomenon which has previously been recorded only in Antipalus varipes (Meigen, 1820) among the Asilidae.

Key words: Diptera, Asilidae, Dasypogon diadema, biology

Although Dasypogon diadema (Fabricius, 1781) is one of the most common robber flies in Central Europe, relatively little is known about its biology. It is a large and sexual dimorphic species. The males have a black abdomen and blackish wings, the females have a black abdomen with red markings, brownish wings and are usually somewhat bigger (Fig. 1). Some new observations about its biology, especially its oviposition, are described in this study.