Robber Fly (Dasylechia atrox)
Dasylechia atrox (Williston 1883). Found at Festge County Park in southern Wisconsin. Dane County, Wisconsin, USA.
I was hiking up a trail running between prairie and edge of oak/hickory forest/savanna in exactly the same spot I had seen this species the previous year. All of a sudden I saw and heard this beauty land on my right shoulder. I leaned close to a tall prairie plant next to the trail and tried to coax it onto the plant. Instead it flew off, circled, and landed on a bare oak branch overhanging the trail about 8-9 feet off the ground. I took a few shots. It flew and landed on my shoulder again. I nudged it off and it flew and landed back on the branch. I got a few more shots. It flew and landed on my back. I reached back and it flew off and disappeared.
Single exposure, moderately cropped, handheld, in situ. Canon MT-26EX flash unit, Ian McConnachie diffuser.
Robber Fly (Dasylechia atrox)
Dasylechia atrox (Williston 1883). Found at Festge County Park in southern Wisconsin. Dane County, Wisconsin, USA.
I was hiking up a trail running between prairie and edge of oak/hickory forest/savanna in exactly the same spot I had seen this species the previous year. All of a sudden I saw and heard this beauty land on my right shoulder. I leaned close to a tall prairie plant next to the trail and tried to coax it onto the plant. Instead it flew off, circled, and landed on a bare oak branch overhanging the trail about 8-9 feet off the ground. I took a few shots. It flew and landed on my shoulder again. I nudged it off and it flew and landed back on the branch. I got a few more shots. It flew and landed on my back. I reached back and it flew off and disappeared.
Single exposure, moderately cropped, handheld, in situ. Canon MT-26EX flash unit, Ian McConnachie diffuser.