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Robber Fly

Asilidae family

Published on Project Noah
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39.6834, -0.668132

Field Notes

Description:

Thought I had photographed a small cricket until I looked at the picture! The larger insect is only a couple of cm long, less than an inch. I took the picture with the telephoto lens I use for birds normally from about 8 feet away. I didn't even notice it had caught its prey! Not sure what the prey is either.

Habitat:

Limestone rock, gorse-covered mountainside.

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (6)
LucBertrand
I love this macro ! You really see every little detail very well :)) It's a funny specimen, the eyes are big. The 2 eyes are the head ! Super
Malcolm Wilton-Jones
Must be a very small bee, its about one fifth the length of the fly, which was about 20mm so only about 4mm long.
Gordon Dietzman
I'd agree on the robber fly ID. Ashish, note the antennae on the robber fly. They are short and somewhat paddle shaped; the type of antennae which a lot of flies have. Bees have a "jointed" antennae, visible in the prey. Ants also have a jointed antennae like this, but the prey is fuzzy and most ants are not, hence I believe the prey is a small bee. Not sure what the prey is but the antennae look like a small bee.
Malcolm Wilton-Jones
I agree with Dave, it is a Robber Fly of the Asilidae family, but which precise one I wouldn't know. I've added a second picture.
TampaDave
That looks like it may be a species of robber fly - http://bugguide.net/node/view/123634
Ashish
I suspect its Queen Honey bee.

Spotted for Missions

Mission
2011 Best Wildlife Photo
Photographed
PublishedMay 18, 2011

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