Robber flies and dragonflies are not nice
Dec 13, 2016 00:29:57 #
Here I record two instances of insect-on-insect predation.
1. The large bumble-bee mimic robber fly (Laphria grossa) is a pretty fearsome predator that will take large stinging insects. It is fairly constantly on the hunt. I learned early in my hobby that many active predators like these robber flies will often have a favorite perch, so if you approach one for pictures and they are spooked, there is a reasonable chance that they will return to the same spot. So I was trying to take a picture of this one, and right when I had it in frame it suddenly flew away. So I just kept looking at the spot thru the viewfinder. A couple seconds later it returned, only it was carrying a small flea beetle!
2. In this next picture we have a rather bedraggled male Eastern pondhawk (Erythemis simplicicollis). Young individuals are bright green, and females will stay that color while males develop a lovely waxy bloom as they mature. So I was taking pictures of this one through my ancient zoom lens. It would frequently take off, return to the same spot, and take off again. I was meanwhile creeping in closer and trying to get a better angle. But when it returned next time, it did not come back alone...
3. Here it hand returned to its spot, carrying what I think is (was) a mating pair of violet dancer damselflies (Argia sp.). He was pulping the female up and down while the male was frantically clawing at the rock, trying to detach himself before the jaws reached him. A moment later he did manage to decouple and fly off.
I remember I was shouting and swearing while watching the scene through my camera.
1. The large bumble-bee mimic robber fly (Laphria grossa) is a pretty fearsome predator that will take large stinging insects. It is fairly constantly on the hunt. I learned early in my hobby that many active predators like these robber flies will often have a favorite perch, so if you approach one for pictures and they are spooked, there is a reasonable chance that they will return to the same spot. So I was trying to take a picture of this one, and right when I had it in frame it suddenly flew away. So I just kept looking at the spot thru the viewfinder. A couple seconds later it returned, only it was carrying a small flea beetle!
2. In this next picture we have a rather bedraggled male Eastern pondhawk (Erythemis simplicicollis). Young individuals are bright green, and females will stay that color while males develop a lovely waxy bloom as they mature. So I was taking pictures of this one through my ancient zoom lens. It would frequently take off, return to the same spot, and take off again. I was meanwhile creeping in closer and trying to get a better angle. But when it returned next time, it did not come back alone...
3. Here it hand returned to its spot, carrying what I think is (was) a mating pair of violet dancer damselflies (Argia sp.). He was pulping the female up and down while the male was frantically clawing at the rock, trying to detach himself before the jaws reached him. A moment later he did manage to decouple and fly off.
I remember I was shouting and swearing while watching the scene through my camera.
Dec 13, 2016 01:26:01 #
one day i was watching a dragonfly when suddenly it went down like it was shot,upon closer inspection i saw the robberfly on its back.no coming back from that.......i pulled my 50mm macro out and shot it......another time i saw a dragonfly catch and eat another one
Dec 13, 2016 03:13:11 #
Dec 13, 2016 07:39:21 #
tinusbum wrote:
There is the awesome 'dragon hunter' dragonfly (Hagenius brevistylus) that will take large prey, and they are especially noted to do that: http://flatironsphotoclub.org/april-competition-results/margie_robinson_aw_dragon_fly_hunter_st . I see them sometimes....another time i saw a dragonfly catch and eat another one.
Dec 13, 2016 12:00:36 #
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