Nature's version of guided missiles, robber flies track prey and kill their victims in mid-air. These acrobatic flies hunt other flying insects, matching every twist and turn as their targets try to escape. The flies swoop down to grab victims in their strong legs; once caught in mid-air, the victims feel the deadly stab of the robber fly's beak, and their insides soon turn to mush.
Bad Beak: The robber fly's dagger-like beak is a frightening sight, and it hides an even more deadly surprises. When the fly stabs a victim, a sharp tube slips out and injects the victim with digestive juices that liquefy the prey's internal organs.
Take a Stab: These insects always know where best to strike their prey. A "beard" of bristles around their beaks detects the soft spots on an insect's body. Robber flies often stab victims several times to drink up the different sections of their bodies.
In-Flight Meal[]
Robber flies are strong enough to "airlift" dead grasshoppers.
Robber flies attack mostly flying insects, so these crafty hunters have developed incredible flying skills in order to help them chase prey in fast-paced "dogfights." The predators' single set of wings makes them highly maneuverable, and a pair of knobs called halteres keep their bodies steady in the air. Robber flies make tight turns and quick dives while in pursuit of prey- they're even known to overtake dragonflies, which are some of the best fliers in the insect world.
Sight Advantage: Large, compound eyes give robber flies great vision. These predators usually can spot the movement of their victims long before potential prey can see them.
In Disguise: Some species of robber fly prey on specific types of insects, such as bees and wasps. Some of these predators have evolved over time to look much like their victims so the robber flies can fly up right to their targets without scaring them away.
Going Ballastic[]
- Sitting on a leaf and watching, a robber fly notices a crane fly taking flight a few feet away. The crane fly doesn't notice the robber, as the predator takes off and begins pursuit.
- Within seconds, the robber rushes in and grabs the crane fly, locking its legs around the victim. The robber finds a soft spot in the crane fly's eye and stabs it.
- The crane fly is dead within seconds as its guts turn into soup. The robber fly carries the victim's body onto a leaf and stabs into it once again to suck up the now juicy insides.
Trivia[]
- The word "ballistic" is misspelled as "ballastic" on the heading on the back of the card.