Robber Fly with prey
Found at Auburn River National Park. Queensland, Australia.
I followed this one around for what seemed to be 20-30 minutes while she hunted. She seemed to have hunting habits very similar to the Leptogastrinae. She was hunting amongst mostly knee-high plants and grasses. She would hover in front of an individual plant looking for prey on the stem and then suddenly dart out toward the stem when she saw something of interest. Plant to plant she went as I followed. After numerous unsuccessful predation attempts she eventually plucked this little geocorid (I think) from a stem and settled for a while on another nearby stem to feed. I got a few shots and she was off again and I eventually lost her amongst the vegetation.
Single exposure, uncropped, handheld, in situ. Canon MT-24EX flash unit, Ian McConnachie diffuser.
Robber Fly with prey
Found at Auburn River National Park. Queensland, Australia.
I followed this one around for what seemed to be 20-30 minutes while she hunted. She seemed to have hunting habits very similar to the Leptogastrinae. She was hunting amongst mostly knee-high plants and grasses. She would hover in front of an individual plant looking for prey on the stem and then suddenly dart out toward the stem when she saw something of interest. Plant to plant she went as I followed. After numerous unsuccessful predation attempts she eventually plucked this little geocorid (I think) from a stem and settled for a while on another nearby stem to feed. I got a few shots and she was off again and I eventually lost her amongst the vegetation.
Single exposure, uncropped, handheld, in situ. Canon MT-24EX flash unit, Ian McConnachie diffuser.