Robber Fly is a photograph by Kaye Menner which was uploaded on December 23rd, 2011.
Robber Fly
The Asilidae are the robber fly family in the order Diptera, the true flies. The common name for members of the family is the Robber Fly. The... more
by Kaye Menner
Title
Robber Fly
Artist
Kaye Menner
Medium
Photograph - Photography
Description
The Asilidae are the robber fly family in the order Diptera, the true flies. The common name for members of the family is the Robber Fly. The Asilidae are cosmopolitan, with over 7000 described species.
They are powerfully built, bristly flies with short, sharp, stout sucking mouthparts. The name "robber flies" reflects their notoriously aggressive predatory habits; they feed mainly on other insects and they largely wait in ambush and catch their prey in flight.
All robber flies have stout, spiny legs and 3 simple eyes (ocelli) in a characteristic depression between their two large compound eyes. They also have a usually dense moustache of stiff bristles on the face; this is called the mystax, a term derived from the Greek mystakos meaning "moustache" or "upper lip". The mystax probably affords some protection for the head and face when the flies deal with struggling prey.
Uploaded
December 23rd, 2011
More from Kaye Menner
Comments (36)
Tautvydas Davainis
Kaye, awesome photography! The detail in this photograph is wonderful. I love your composition! – Tautvydas:)
Kaye Menner
Thank you Lenore for your comment and v/f. I love the way you explain what you like about a shot.
Lenore Senior
Wow! This is spectacular. I love this, especially for the sense of detail, but also because the opposing diagonals so appeal to me. Wonderfully done! v/f
Kaye Menner
Thank you DiDi for running the competition and for your congratulations. There were many ugly but beautiful bug images.
Kaye Menner
Thank you very much, Jerri. Thanks also for adding me to your watchlist. I have done likewise.
Kaye Menner
Thank you very much Randy. This was a small rope that was hanging in our garden. Nearly everyday, this Robber Fly would sit on it for a while.
Randy Rosenberger
Quite a unique and brilliant capture, Kaye! Love the detail and coloring of the fly, the "perch" is intriguing, and your background is superb!