ROBBER FLY vs. ROBBER FLY

[ExoticOddities]

These wicked creatures will also prey upon each other. In this photo, one species has another impaled against a large oak tree.

Jack

 

[MANTIS DUDE]

These wicked creatures will also prey upon each other. In this photo, one species has another impaled against a large oak tree.

Jack

ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

hhhhhhhhhhhhhhh yuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck

 

[chrisboy101]

good photo

 

[ABbuggin]

nice pic (I've actually seen them do that a few times)

 

[ExoticOddities]

Not bad for a little $450 P&S camera

.

 

[Sparky]

I actually wanted to keep one of these before. :lol:

 

[jplelito]

very nice picture! robber flies will often take out insects they can barely carry - this one's no exception!

 

[acerbity]

I stepped on one of these today!

Are these the same as horseflies?

 

[ABbuggin]

I stepped on one of these today!Are these the same as horseflies?

Nope, horse flies bite us, these dont (unless you grab it lol).

 

[The_Asa]

That...is...awesome...

 

[ExoticOddities]

Thanks & glad everyone likes the shot B)

To answer the question, no, horse flies are pests and parasitic blood-suckers. They land on a host and drink their blood. Robber flies are aereal predators that snatch-up other arthropods with their long, very strong legs and then ram a large sharp proboscis into their back and drink out the fluids. Where dragon flies kinda chew their prey with mandibles, robber flies have basically a spike sticking out of their face that they ram inside a victim.

.

 

[collinchang635]

I've never heard of this before but I like it! :lol:

 

[Rick]

Never been bit by one and I do grab them when I can for mantis food.

 

[collinchang635]

Never been bit by one and I do grab them when I can for mantis food.

Are they dangerous towards mantids?

 

[Rick]

Are they dangerous towards mantids?

If they were do you think I would use them as food? I always fed them to large mantids that could easily take them. I also use bees as food.

 

[idolomantis]

Are they dangerous towards mantids?

no, mantids can generaly take any poisonous animal as prey, aslong as they ambushed it.

the're becomming dangerous when they fight back.

 

[nympho]

nice insect!

well, not exactly nice, but you know what I mean.