Multi-tasking robber fly

Images of undisturbed subjects in their natural environment. All subject types.

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SteveB
Posts: 71
Joined: Sat Nov 25, 2017 12:12 pm
Location: Pretoria South Africa

Multi-tasking robber fly

Post by SteveB »

The world is full of things that might surprise you!

Image

Freehand stack taken on the Magaliesburg west of Pretoria.

Beatsy
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Location: Malvern, UK

Post by Beatsy »

Ménage à trois - kinda :) Good catch!

Lou Jost
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Post by Lou Jost »

Nice catch!

SteveB
Posts: 71
Joined: Sat Nov 25, 2017 12:12 pm
Location: Pretoria South Africa

Post by SteveB »

Thanks for sharing the moment Beatsy and lou. If I hadn't got the picture I probably wouldn't have told anyone for fear of not being believed.

Lou Jost
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Post by Lou Jost »

Your shot inspired me to read up on robber fly courtship, and it seems this is really not very uncommon. Males like to mate with females that are otherwise occupied. I should add that I learned some really crazy courtship behaviors for some species....

Olympusman
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Multitasking

Post by Olympusman »

"Ahhh, I remember one night in Minneapolis..."
Michael Reese Much FRMS EMS Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, USA

SteveB
Posts: 71
Joined: Sat Nov 25, 2017 12:12 pm
Location: Pretoria South Africa

Post by SteveB »

Glad you survived it Michael! Lou, is the thinking that the males actually favour hunting prowess in the females, or is it more a case of females which are already eating are less likely to eat a suitor which doesn't impress?

Lou Jost
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Post by Lou Jost »

Steve, I think it is the latter, but I also doubt that anyone knows....

SteveB
Posts: 71
Joined: Sat Nov 25, 2017 12:12 pm
Location: Pretoria South Africa

Post by SteveB »

Thanks that makes sense. They really are powerful predators. I have seen them carry quite big butterflies far.

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