Hmmm, if you look a little closer at that leaf, you may be surprised at the battles being waged there.
Nothing brings me more joy than exploring nature in all her glory. Truth be told, on many days I would rather be communing with nature and her many creatures rather than with fellow humans. Sorry if that offends you but it is the truth.
If you follow my posts, you may know that I have becoming enamored with insects in the last couple of years. This summer I have taken a particular shine to Robber Flies like the Bee Mimic Robber Fly at the head this post. Confession: This post has no purpose other than to indulge my fascination, showcase a few Robber Flies and share a few facts about them.
Robber Flies are also called Assassin Flies because they prey on other insects – waiting in ambush and often catching their prey in flight as the Bee Mimic Robber Fly above had just done when I snapped this photo.
Robber Flies are powerfully built, bristly flies with a short, stout proboscis which they use to stab their prey and inject enzymes which paralyze it. The Common Micropanther shown above may well have been zeroing in on a meal.
Robber Flies feed on a wide variety of insects including other flies, beetles, butterflies and moths, bees, ants, dragonflies and damselflies, Ichneumon wasps and spiders. The Snow Bladetail shown above was likely in stealth, ambush mode.
Best not to try and handle these ferocious critters as they will defend themselves and can inflict painful bites. They sometimes mimic bees as the Eastern Yellow-backed Laphria shown above does. But I am told their bite is a match for any sting.
There are many apt analogies for nature. But Robber Flies argue for the battlefield metaphor. There are countless mini battles being fought every minute which are necessary for the delicate balance that holds it all together. It is a fly-eat-fly world however soothing and peaceful its effect on us.
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~ Michael Robert Dyet is also the author of Until the Deep Water Stills – An Internet-enhanced Novel (now out of print) which was a double winner in the Reader Views Literary Awards 2009. Visit Michael’s website at www.mdyetmetaphor.com .
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Tags: Bee Mimic Robber Fly · Common Micropanther · Eastern Yellow-backed · metaphor · Michae Robert Dyet · Robber Fly · Snow BladetailNo Comments