Robber Fly (Dasylechia atrox) with prey
Dasylechia atrox (Williston 1883). Prey is a Yellowjacket. Found at Hickory Hill Conservancy Park in Cross Plains in southern Wisconsin. Dane County, Wisconsin, USA.
I had the privilege of this beauty using me as a dinner table.
It was between 10:30AM and 11:00AM and I had just taken a step or two off the path into the forest edge vegetation when I heard a loud buzz approach me from the rear and abruptly stop. I thought maybe something had landed on me or my backpack. I very gingerly removed my backpack and set it down on the path. While doing so, I glanced down and was extremely and pleasantly surprised to see this scene.
I took a few shots from different angles. I assume it must have gotten fed up with the flash as it took off, circled and landed on my right shoulder/upper back. I tried to coax it onto the finger of my left hand but it ended up tumbling over into my hand instead. It seemed to panic and took off again, dropping the Yellowjacket. It landed on a bare tree branch about 12-15 feet off the ground. Eventually it took off and climbed into the higher branches of a hickory tree and I did not see it again.
Single exposure, uncropped, handheld, in situ. Canon MT-24EX flash unit, Ian McConnachie diffuser.
Robber Fly (Dasylechia atrox) with prey
Dasylechia atrox (Williston 1883). Prey is a Yellowjacket. Found at Hickory Hill Conservancy Park in Cross Plains in southern Wisconsin. Dane County, Wisconsin, USA.
I had the privilege of this beauty using me as a dinner table.
It was between 10:30AM and 11:00AM and I had just taken a step or two off the path into the forest edge vegetation when I heard a loud buzz approach me from the rear and abruptly stop. I thought maybe something had landed on me or my backpack. I very gingerly removed my backpack and set it down on the path. While doing so, I glanced down and was extremely and pleasantly surprised to see this scene.
I took a few shots from different angles. I assume it must have gotten fed up with the flash as it took off, circled and landed on my right shoulder/upper back. I tried to coax it onto the finger of my left hand but it ended up tumbling over into my hand instead. It seemed to panic and took off again, dropping the Yellowjacket. It landed on a bare tree branch about 12-15 feet off the ground. Eventually it took off and climbed into the higher branches of a hickory tree and I did not see it again.
Single exposure, uncropped, handheld, in situ. Canon MT-24EX flash unit, Ian McConnachie diffuser.