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Robber Fly


Robber Fly
Photo Information
Copyright: Diego Gonzalez (Diegaso) Silver Note Writer [C: 2 W: 0 N: 10] (42)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-02-10
Categories: Insects
Camera: Samsung S750
Exposure: 1/4 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-12-19 16:20
Viewed: 606
Points: 4
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Hello trekNature.
I again. My last post was 8 month about, in this picture are two pics of an insect of the same species "Asilidae".
Best regards from Argentina.
Here the description.

Asilidae
Insects in the Diptera family Asilidae are commonly called robber flies. 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.

Life Cycle

Adults lay eggs into soil or plants. The larvae are often found in decaying organic matter, such as dung heaps and rotting logs but are also found in ordinary soil. In most species the larvae are omnivorous and are known to eat eggs and larvae of other insects.

Scientific classification

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Hexapoda
Class: Insecta
Subclass: Pterygota
Infraclass: Neoptera
Superorder: Endopterygota
Order: Diptera
Suborder: Brachycera
Infraorder: Asilomorpha
Superfamily: Asiloidea
Family: Asilidae
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • sayat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 290 W: 0 N: 258] (1457)
  • [2008-12-20 2:48]

Hi Diego,

Nice collage! Both images are very sharp and have good, natural colors. Amazing note too.

Best regards.

Hola Diego
Bonita composición de éstos diferentes puntos de vista.
Saludos. Ferran.

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