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Robber Fly in the grass
1st PlaceRobber Fly in the grass
roz


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Free Study 2023-01 (Standard Editing)
Collection: 2023-24 - CHALLENGES and associated
Camera: Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III
Lens: Olympus 60mm f/2.8 Macro M.Zuiko Digital ED
Date: Jan 17, 2023
Aperture: 4.0
ISO: 200
Shutter: 1/125
Galleries: Macro, Insects, etc
Date Uploaded: Jan 28, 2023

 i personally feel robber flies are the most handsome .. interesting and photogenic of all the insects ..
although the long legged flies are pretty awesome too and i feel would go better in a dpc challenge ...
there were lots of long legged flies around for a while a couple of months back .. unfortunately now they are nowhere to be seen ..

its interesting how the insect life changes with the seasons and with the years ... some insects that i used to see a lot a few years back were the paper wasps .. now i dont see them at all ..

anyway .. hopefully ppl will enjoy seeing all the incredible details of this robber fly .. :)

here's some interesting info ..
The Asilidae are the robber fly family, also called assassin flies.

"The world is full of robber flies — approximately 7,000 species have been recognized worldwide and 1,000 are native to North America. All robber flies are predators on insects and have two wings, prominent spikes on their legs, stout hairs on the body, a prominent proboscis fashioned into a sharp tube or beak and large, widely-spaced compound eyes. The mystax, composed of stout and stiff facial hair resembling either a beard or mustache, protects the robber’s face and eyes from a flailing, impaled prey. Robbers have three simple eyes in a pit between the compound eyes, near the top of the head.

Robber flies usually take prey smaller than themselves, but they have been reported to take dragonflies, bees, wasps and butterflies that are larger."

Robber’s modified mouthparts form a stiff, hollow beak that serves first as a dagger, then as a hypodermic needle and finally as a straw. When robbers impale prey they inject both neurotoxins and digestive enzymes. The neurotoxins quickly subdue and soon kill the prey. The digestive enzymes turn the prey’s internal tissues to soup, but do not damage the tough chitinous exoskeleton, which now serves as a watertight container full of thick broth. Fluids are sucked through the beak until the carcass until is a dry husk.

Robber flies are flexible hunters. Most hunt by intercepting flying insects from one of several perches in their territory. Others snag prey from vegetation or pounce on prey on the ground. They usually return to a perch in their territory to consume the prey, which takes from 5 to 15 minutes for small prey but perhaps more than an hour for large prey."

after rollover ..
was incredibly surprised this did so well .. was a really exciting week ..
thanks everyone for your votes and comments .. xx ..

Statistics
Place: 1 out of 49
Avg (all users): 7.6250
Avg (participants): 7.3750
Avg (non-participants): 8.0000
Views since voting: 1410
Views during voting: 86
Votes: 40
Comments: 15
Favorites: 0

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AuthorThread
Sony Alpha a7R III
Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 G SSM
02/10/2023 02:28:30 PM
Great shot and details. Congrats on a well deserved blue!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon Z9
Nikon AF-S Nikkor 105mm f/1.4E ED
 02/08/2023 03:47:33 PM
Gorgeous as always Roz - love it! The depth is perfection and a well deserved blue for you!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-5D
Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM
 02/08/2023 03:25:44 PM
This one was super duper incredible. Such crisp focus and the color and the image is so incredibly sharp.
Congratulations a well deserved BLUE!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS R5
Canon RF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS USM
 02/08/2023 07:44:58 AM
Well done Roz! Incredible capture. 10 from me and was counting on it being blue :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Sony Alpha a7R III
Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8 L II
 02/08/2023 01:33:43 AM
Congrat for the Blue ribbon. A beautiful composition
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-80D
Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS
 02/08/2023 01:26:25 AM
Stunning Roz. Just stunning.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Sony Alpha a7R III
Sigma 85mm f/1.4 FG HSM Art
 02/08/2023 12:37:32 AM
incredible image. This rubber is a real killer. congrats Roz!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
Fujifilm X-M1
Fujifilm XC 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 OIS
 02/07/2023 06:33:11 PM
Wow. Some great photos in this one. And this is near the top
It’s a 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-5D
Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM
 02/07/2023 04:05:34 PM
The crispness in this stunning image is over the top. Wow.. I am blown away with this image.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/06/2023 01:43:37 PM
My favorite in this challenge.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-6D Mark II
Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0 L IS
 02/06/2023 10:34:44 AM
Amazing. Reminds me of this. :-)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS R5
Canon RF 24-105mm f/4-7.1 IS STM
 02/05/2023 09:06:35 AM
Beautifully captured and composed. Ribbon quality.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS R5
Canon RF 100mm f/2.8 L Macro IS USM
 02/05/2023 12:39:06 AM
amazing shot
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon Z8
Nikon NIKKOR Z 28-400mm f/4-8
 02/03/2023 02:47:35 PM
Perfect DOF and detail. Also, it's a Robber Fly. So it must be a roz image!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Sony Alpha a7R III
Sigma 85mm f/1.4 FG HSM Art
 02/01/2023 10:53:09 AM
I think this guy is Australian. I think I saw once his brother. They are very pretty with the green background:)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
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