Hostile aliens are among us.
A war is being waged, and the number of victims have been staggering.
.jpg)
The reports are true:
they stab their victims with their needle like tongues,
inject enzymes that paralyze their victims and liquifies their organs,
and then they suck it all up.
Slurp.
It's time to panic, folks. Head for your bomb shelters and basements! What is the government doing about this?!
.jpg)
Oh, what? These aren't hostile extraterrestrials that have come to feed on our organs?
These are actual real BUGS?!
.jpg) |
| Robber fly ingesting a bee |
Phew! Well, at least we humans don't have to worry!
I guess I can't say the same for all of the normal prey that a Robber fly stalks, like bees, dragonflies, grasshoppers, and wasps. Robber flies often take on animals that are larger than themselves - there have even been reports of robber flies attacking hummingbirds..
.jpg) |
| Robber fly ingesting a bee |
Robber flies are important for controlling the populations of various insects that they eat and thus can often be considered beneficial (depending on what they are eating).
But still a little bit scary,
don't you think?
.jpg)
Ugh, I know many insects are beneficial and that without insects, the human race would soon starve...but, but...I do prefer them on a distance! Great photos and information, not sure if we have this particular one over here, but I don’t intend to inspect all the flying creatures in my garden to find out!
ReplyDeleteI think they are fascinating, but, like you, I do prefer many of them at a distance! There are some strange looking bugs out there...
DeleteWOW! What incredible shots you got! I recently read an interesting post debating how beneficial they really are since they are not selective in their eating habits. I think they are really cool looking but I don't like that they attack hummers or dragonflies. I saw a hornet at my butterfly bush yesterday that was harassing all the butterflies. I tried to shoo him away but didn't want to get stung myself. I guess sometimes we have to take the good with the bad.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I couldn't get a good read on whether or not the robber fly is beneficial. I guess they all have their place on the food chain!
DeleteIndie,
ReplyDeleteGood post, these guys are everywhere around here right now. Did you see my recent post where my honey bees killed a Giant Robberfly and kicked it off their porch.
I've seen several around my garden lately (or maybe the same one comes often). I did see your post. Go honeybees!!
DeleteEwww...that was hard to view. But great photos!
ReplyDeleteThanks - it is certainly a strange and rather creepy looking bug. It was even a little scarier in person seeing how big it was!
DeleteIndie, it's very interesting about bugs. The nature is around us.
ReplyDeleteI love seeing what's in the garden, but I am taken by surprise by some of the large bugs here in my area!
DeleteFantastic photographs, extraordinary face of the nature. I am greeting
ReplyDeleteThank you! It is amazing - even the life in our garden is so diverse!
DeleteWhat wonderful shots! I love the closeups of the Robber Fly. I wish they would come here and kill some Yellow Jackets.
ReplyDeleteThank you! I was rather sad this fly was eating a bee. We have lots of wasps around it could have munched on!
DeleteGreat photos. Like making sausage, there are some things I would rather not see but I like the end result. Let nature, not insecticides, take care of problem pests.
ReplyDeleteEeek! Very scary. But the photographs are wonderful.
ReplyDeleteThank you! It was a large bug!
DeleteYuck, but good for you for taking such great shots.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if they sting people? Our neighbor was stung by something similar, and she swelled right up.
Jen @ Muddy Boot Dreams
I have heard reports of them occasionally biting people, which leaves welts. (I don't think they usually bite people, though. You gotta know when something's a little too big for you!)
Deletegreat shots but I agree yuck! And I would not like it if I saw one with a hummer...
ReplyDeleteThankfully I don't think it happens too often - there have only been several reports of hummers and robber flies tangling. It's rather scary to think about!
Deleteoh why ? I must say I prefer the squirel stories. Btw, I was in Pinehurst in August, how far was that from the red house ?
ReplyDeleteHa, I don't think the Mission Impossible squirrels would like to tangle with this possible villain! It is a scary one!
DeletePinehurst is only a little over an hour from me. Not too far away at all! How did you like North Carolina?
I loved it better than the Miami bit of my US trip, if you want the truth. Much quieter, lovely people and fabulous food. I didn't have time to see the mountain range, some other time maybe ? Take care :)
DeleteThe stuff of horror stories for sure! Some comfort in that at least they eat their victims and don't kill just for pleasure or malice, unlike some larger, more intelligent species that inhabit the planet.
ReplyDeleteTouché! Very true!
DeleteThe only thing that comes to mind is YUK.
ReplyDeleteAt least they don't swarm, right? :)
DeleteI've seen robber flies here, but I've never seen one actually eating something! You got some amazing pictures!
ReplyDeleteThanks! I remember the first time I saw a robber fly - I was like, what in the WORLD is that giant THING?!
DeleteOh good grief Indie...running for the hills...AGAIN!!!!
ReplyDeleteI guess your garden is too tidy for such bugs ;)
DeleteThey sure do look scary--fantastic photos, Indie! I wish I had some to eat some of the grasshoppers around here, but I wouldn't be too happy with them attacking bees or dragonflies.
ReplyDelete