Cristian-M on DeviantArthttps://www.deviantart.com/cristian-m/art/Cannibalflies-40D0023949-98369266Cristian-M

Deviation Actions

Cristian-M's avatar

Cannibalflies 40D0023949

By
Published:
287 Views

Description

Red-footed Cannibalflies (Promachus rufipes)

Robber flies is the common name of flies in the Diptera Family Asilidae. The Family Asilidae contains about 7,100 described species worldwide. All robber flies have stout, spiny legs, a dense moustache of bristles on the face (mystax), and 3 simple eyes (ocelli) in a characteristic depression between their two large compound eyes. The mystax helps protect the head and face when the fly encounters prey bent on defense. The antennae are short, 3-segmented, sometimes with a bristle-like structure called an arista. The short, strong proboscis is used to stab and inject victims with saliva containing neurotoxic and proteolytic enzymes which paralyze and digest the insides; the fly then sucks the liquefied meal through the proboscis. Many species have long, tapering abdomens, sometimes with a sword-like ovipositor. Others are fat-bodied bumblebee mimics. Adult robber flies attack other flies, beetles, butterflies and moths, various bees, dragon and damselflies, Ichneumon wasps, grasshoppers and some spiders.

The larvae are often found in decaying organic matter, such as dung heaps and rotting logs. Other species live in the soil. In most species the larvae are omnivorous.

Promachus rufipes is a large robber fly with a tiger-striped abdomen. It lives in the southeastern United States. It preys mostly on insects, bu it has been recorded to attack and kill hummingbirds.

More info: [link] [link]
Image size
3939x3030px 6.17 MB
Make
Canon
Model
Canon EOS 40D
Shutter Speed
1/332 second
Aperture
F/10.0
Focal Length
105 mm
ISO Speed
250
Date Taken
Sep 7, 2008, 9:49:36 AM
© 2008 - 2024 Cristian-M
Comments6
Join the community to add your comment. Already a deviant? Log In
PaganFireSnake's avatar
Yeah those crazy things attack people too! Had one land on me one very hot day and it took a bite. Good thing they move fast or it would have been flattened! :rofl: Nice shot tho....:lol: