Thursday 1 December 2011

Red-footed Cannibalfly

Image: Lynette S. via Flickr

When you come across something called the Red-footed Cannibalfly, you don't keep it to yourself. You glory in his name!

Promachus rufipes is a Robber Fly from eastern United States, and it comes complete with all the cool Robber Fly accoutrements.

Image: cotinis via Flickr

There are the big, black eyes for supreme vision, chunky legs for grabbing hold of prey on the wing, pointed mouthparts for injecting chemically pulverising enzymes and a long, blonde beard to go with the sunglasses for the Village People audition.

Good luck!

14 comments:

TexWisGirl said...

he's very cute!

Joseph JG said...

Cute killers are my favourite kind of killer!

Anonymous said...

What is that... black pointy "horn" sticking out between eyes of these robber flies? Is it some kind of antenna or something more deadly?

Joseph JG said...

It is indeed the antennae. I guess the deadliness is however much it helps out with homing in on prey. After all, a good map is half the battle.

Crunchy said...

It looks like John Denver!

Joseph JG said...

Hahaha! I think the Cannibalfly looks way cooler, though!

Katie (Nature ID) said...

I think it looks like one of the ZZ Top.

Joseph JG said...

ZZ Top! Yes! I can even imagine both being fans of each other!

Unknown said...

Just had one of these on my porch.

Joseph JG said...

Very nice!

Lear's Fool said...

I found something neat a while back on this particular bug, I suspect you'll enjoy. :)

http://www.hiltonpond.org/ThisWeek070901.html

I bet it could use your 'from the perspective of the critter' treatment. :)

Joseph JG said...

Yikes! Not really going along with the whole cannibal thing, are they

Unknown said...

Had a visit from this odd looking insect. It lit on my open car door on two occasions in same week. We are butted up to heavily overgrown state land. In attempt to id, I learned that NJ (south) is not or hadn't been an area that they had previously been found. We also have plenty of bees n wasps for it to eat so I hope hummingbirds r safe. Btw, she is about 2".

Unknown said...

Re: prior NJ post.
These sightings were at end of August 2019. Fly seemed to be interested in watching me (both occasions) and did so long enough I got a few pics. I'm small 100 lbs 5'1". Was she thinking, meal?