1 Apr 2024

The Skyway Bandit: Master of the Mid-Air Heist


Last year, I began volunteering at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. Besides helping the Center with its Fauna Project, I hang out with a dozen or more photographers every week. I thought I would return to my first time at the Center for a Macro Monday feature. When I photographed this Robber Fly with a fire ant in her mouth (I was told it was a female Robber Fly), I wondered why they got that name.

A quick online search led me to the A-Z Animals website. There, I learned that Robber Flies (Efferia tuberculata) earned that name because of their aggressive hunting style. They are ambush predators that can sometimes catch their prey in mid-flight. A-Z Animals says that Robber Flies can be found all over the world. Although there are “more than 7,000 species,” only 1,000 are “found in North America.” Because of this predatory nature, Robber Flies are sometimes called assassin flies. This fire ant had no escape from this voracious insect.


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20 Responses

  1. Brad
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    Brilliant photos and fun facts Egidio. They sound like Dragonflies which are considered one of the best hunter, predator, and flyers of all creatures. I shared a similar post about them last year.

  2. Egídio Leitão
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    Thanks, Brad. I love to photograph dragonflies, too. It’s wonderful to watch their behavior.

  3. Egídio Leitão
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    I tried to find your dragonfly post, but couldn’t find a search function. Would you please send me the link? I’d appreciate that.

  4. nesfelicio
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    Brilliant macro capture. Not easy when the bugs are in motion.

  5. Egídio Leitão
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    That and the wind… Thanks, Nes.

  6. Anne Sandler
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    Great macro Egidio!

  7. Leanne Cole
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    These are amazing Egidio macro is always hard so to get such sharp images, kudos.

  8. margaret21
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    What a great place that must be to volunteer. Thanks for passing some insights on!

  9. philosophy through photography
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    Interesting. I never heard of this fly. Thank you. The photo is lovely!

  10. Ritva Sillanmäki Photography
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    That is lovely, two great great things combined helping and socializing

  11. Rebecca Cuningham
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    Excellent capture!

  12. Egídio Leitão
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    Thank you, Anne. I love getting macro photos. There is so much the naked eye cannot see.

  13. Egídio Leitão
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    Thanks, Leanne. Macros can be so revealing.

  14. Egídio Leitão
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    You are very welcome, Margaret. I appreciate your comments.

  15. Egídio Leitão
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    Thanks, Philo. Sometimes, Robber Flies are confused with horseflies. They are not the same.

  16. Egídio Leitão
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    I love it. Even when I don’t photograph anything, the photography chat is good. The truth is, though, there is always something to photograph. 🙂

  17. Egídio Leitão
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    Thank you so much, Rebecca.

  18. philosophy through photography
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    True. Both appear similar

  19. Amy
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    I loved the JBL Wildflower Center. It’s a wonderful place to do volunteer work, Egidio! Great macro image.

  20. Egídio Leitão
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    Thank you so much, Amy. I enjoy spending time at the Wildflower Center. It’s peaceful and also provide me with great opportunities for photography.

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