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Robber Fly II


Robber Fly II
Photo Information
Copyright: Ram Thakur (ramthakur) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2928 W: 107 N: 7443] (24125)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-07-13
Categories: Insects
Camera: Nikon D200, Sigma 70-300 4-5.6 APO DG MACRO, 58mm UV
Exposure: f/14.0, 1/160 seconds
Details: (Fill) Flash: Yes
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-07-17 2:11
Viewed: 348
Points: 30
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Friends, this is the second Robberfly I ever shot. I had shot the first one in the hills of Himachal Pradesh in 2005.
When I was trying to capture this insect clinging to these typical two-colour decorative grass leaves in the garden, I had no idea that I was shooting a Robberfly. It was only during the search for its ID that I realized it was a Robberfly, no doubt, but of a different kind. Normally we see those hairy ones standing on their legs and holding on to their prey. In this case, the Robberfly does not look intimidating. In fact, it looks pretty to me.
You can see that it is holding some small black insect.
Here is a general note on Roobberflies taken from Wikipedia:

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.

Thanks for your kind critiques on my previous post. I got unduly occupied yesterday and could not catch up with TN to write return critiques. I would try to do it today.
haraprasan, red45, mayuresh, pankajbajpai, eqshannon, Argus, nglen, lousat, Jamesp, albert, goldyrs has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To pankajbajpai: Use of 70-300mm for macrosramthakur 4 07-21 06:22
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Critiques [Translate]

Details on legs is very good. Also the grass is so interesting. TFS.

  • Great 
  • vral Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 56 W: 0 N: 151] (652)
  • [2008-07-17 4:31]

Hello Sir,

very nice capture of this Robber Fly with good details and color. Composition and POV are superb. I like the eye details and colors.

Thanks a lot for sharing
vral

  • Great 
  • red45 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2808 W: 75 N: 7868] (26349)
  • [2008-07-17 5:00]

Hello Ram!

I've never seen this specie. It looks great, especially its eyes. Well composed, sharp and detailed. Moment is also good - it is big fun to observe robberfly hunting and eating its prey. It's quite surprising for me that these insects are so rare in India - land of many beautifull insects.

Hello Ram sir,
Wonderful shot,you have capture a great moment,excellent details,perfect focusing and lighting,very good composition and colours,
well done,
tfs

An excellent macro. Very impressive details. Well done.
Best wishes,
Achim

hello sir,
the fly has been captured with its hunt, looks like its meal time, liked the pov and the composition, i am surprised that you are doing macro with 70/300 when you have a real macro lens. Looks like you got this insect s bonus while shooting birds and hence switched to macro mode of this lens.
tfs & regards
pankaj

No problems with this image Ram as it catches something I had not heard of..which isn't unusual in small insects...so many out there...and perhaps I have seen some but never had a name to put to them until now...I think I might have remembered the head and eye colours on this one though. the legs and head are stand above!
Bob

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2500 W: 132 N: 7109] (22209)
  • [2008-07-17 7:55]

I never knew that Robberflies could be so colourful, Ram.
I have not seen a brown before but the most striking are the eyes. Seen from a great POV and set in a fine composition this is an attractive macro of a robberfly with its insect prey.
Thanks for sharing this beauty,
Best regards, Ivan

  • Great 
  • demeve Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 508 W: 8 N: 1077] (3976)
  • [2008-07-17 13:56]

Hello Ram,
Very impressive capture! The robberfly is well presented,
very sharp, and well composed picture.. Beautiful colors
I just don't see myself shooting flies, they're too fast
and annoying, I'm sorry but I hate them.. but I appreciate
those that take the time photograph them and present us
with pictures like yours, in which they turn out to be quite
cute!?
.. very well done my friend

Everton

  • Great 
  • lousat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 937 W: 5 N: 2456] (9197)
  • [2008-07-17 16:55]

Hi Ram,not a perfect focus on the wings but wonderfull on the eyes,the colors are incredibles,nice point of view,thanks for share,Luciano

  • Great 
  • Jamesp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1218 W: 0 N: 4657] (13840)
  • [2008-07-17 22:20]

Hi Ram

Beautiful lighting here - gorgeous. I also really like the slighly eerie glow in the eyes.

Well seen and captured.

JAmes

Hi Mr. Ram,
A lovely capture of this beautiful robberfly with its meal. Very good use of flash. Good details and a lovely composition. Thanks a lot for sharing.

Sincerely
HP

Hello Ram,
I don't like flies but presented like you did with this superb photo, they are interesting and very nice in colours
Well done
Kind regards
Albert

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1904 W: 4 N: 5177] (19726)
  • [2008-07-18 10:17]

Hello Ram. A very good close up of the Robberfly eating a insect. You shot shows warm colours and the bright green eys show up well. with good detai. interesting notes too. well done TFS.
Nick..
Have a nice weekend.

A beautiful shot Sir.
Very well done!

Goldy

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