Note the elongate, spiny legs used for grasping prey in flight, as well as the large piercing-sucking mouthparts. Click/double click image to enlarge.
26 species of Diogmites are widely distributed throughout the U.S, though their range extends into South America. They can be found on low growing vegetation where they await a variety of prey species including wasps, flies, and dragonflies.
Robberflies seize the prey with their spiny legs while in flight and then stab their piercing-sucking mouthparts into their prey before feeding on body fluids.
Several other robber fly species can be seen at http://thingsbiological.wordpress.com/2010/08/17/sonoran-desert-robber-flies and http://thingsbiological.wordpress.com/2011/09/11/robber-fly-promachus-sp/.
The eyes of these visual hunters are particularly well developed. Click image to enlarge.
Fantastic photos!
I photographed my first robber flies here in Australia a few months ago. I know they were Asilidae family, but don’t know the species yet. I am just starting on insects and there are rather a lot of them!
Thanks, Lynne. I think it’s about time for you to write another arthropod-related book
.
Wonderful photographs! You really did a good job of getting close Dave. Keep up your great work!
Thanks for your feedback, Rob! Are you going to be attending BugShot 2012?
[...] Dave Stone got up close and personal with a Diogmites robber fly. [...]