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Cannibalism !!


Cannibalism !!
Photo Information
Copyright: Victor Mukherjee (vmukherjee) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 200 W: 0 N: 113] (1046)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-05-18
Categories: Insects
Camera: Olympus Sp 510uz
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/125 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-05-19 8:33
Viewed: 485
Points: 18
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
I was somehat surprised to see this one.... looks like cannibalism in robberflies (I thank Alex for supplying the id)! I was searching for some spiders, snakes etc when suddenly this damsel sat near me with a deadbody (looks like the lower fly is dead, from its head angling) hanging fro its mouth! I managed to have a few quick shots before it again flew away. Did not get the opportunity to remove the grass from the front.

I thank Subhayan Mondol (shabsslg) for pointing out the possibility of cannibalism related to mating habits of robber flies. I found some information from

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E0CE0D81339F937A3575BC0A964958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all

The females of some robber fly species are cannibalistic, albeit unintentionally so, and will devour potential mates that come too close to the larger female's grasping toes and piercing mouth parts.

"Courtship behavior seems to have evolved as a way of reducing the male's risk of being eaten by a female of his own species," Dr. Lavigne has concluded. He explained that cannibalism is almost exclusively a female trait that apparently results from a case of mistaken identity, since a hungry robber fly considers any insect smaller than itself to be potential source of sustenance.

"The female's attack at prey is so sudden that the cannibalism is really indiscriminate," he said. But by courting the female before getting close enough to mate, a male with amorous intentions in effect announces that he is neither predator nor prey but merely interested in propagating the species. Hovering and Kicking.

I have found some information from http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E0CE0D81339F937A3575BC0A964958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all

The females of some robber fly species are cannibalistic, albeit unintentionally so, and will devour potential mates that come too close to the larger female's grasping toes and piercing mouth parts.

"Courtship behavior seems to have evolved as a way of reducing the male's risk of being eaten by a female of his own species," Dr. Lavigne has concluded. He explained that cannibalism is almost exclusively a female trait that apparently results from a case of mistaken identity, since a hungry robber fly considers any insect smaller than itself to be potential source of sustenance.

"The female's attack at prey is so sudden that the cannibalism is really indiscriminate," he said. But by courting the female before getting close enough to mate, a male with amorous intentions in effect announces that he is neither predator nor prey but merely interested in propagating the species. Hovering and Kicking .
gracious, Alex99, danbachmann, cicindela, RII has marked this note useful
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To Alex99: Thanks for the idvmukherjee 1 05-19 18:04
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Critiques [Translate]

Hello Victor,
Great close up shot of the damselflies!
the image is real sharp with natural colour and much details in the shot with a perfect moment!
the exposure and focus is good too
well done
best regards
Tony

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3043 W: 148 N: 4547] (14679)
  • [2008-05-19 11:38]
  • [+]

Hi Victor.
Excellent photo trophy. But I think these are robber flies. I have shot of the species in my gallery. In any case wonderful scene and perfect quality of the close-up image. My best wishes.
Alexei.

WOW! What a great close-up! Fantastic point of view and wonderful details!

  • Great 
  • gannu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 927 W: 4 N: 2317] (10792)
  • [2008-05-20 4:15]

Hello Victorda, Superb and just simply superb.Amazing you had two in the same shot. Just fantastic and great sharpness. Ganesh

Hi Everton, great capture, amazing moment and splendid documentation, very interesting, fantastic details and excellent sharpness, very well done, ciao Silvio

Hi Victor,

Quite curious about the photo. I heard that after mating spider bride eats up it's groom to meet it's additional food requirement during gestation. Is it something similar?

Subhayan.

Hello again Victor!
This picture payd my atention for longer because of the title :) It is perfectly known that Asilidae flies are very good hunters and they can catch many different species of insects (please feel free to watch here - Odonata as a prey, and here - another member of Asilidae family as a prey), but canibalism is not very common :) So your picture has great documentary value :)
TFS and my best compliments!
Friendly yours,
Radomir

  • Great 
  • GLEM Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 524 W: 87 N: 693] (5739)
  • [2008-07-02 12:21]

salut Victor,
très bonne image due a un coup d'oeil incroyable. Couleurs naturelles et bonne netteté.

gl

  • Great 
  • RII Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 478 W: 0 N: 872] (2752)
  • [2008-08-25 17:43]

Hi Victor.

Excellent macro, very nice composition, good colors, details and note.


Thanks....RICARDO.

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