Emporer moth

Emporer moth
By Peter Byles

Thursday, 7 June 2018

Fan-bristled Robberfly





I saw this buzzing brown blob labouring through the air over Poppit dunes. It crashed to the ground, so I crept up and snapped it before it took off again. I couldn’t see what it was until I got the shot on the computer. Melvin Grey then did some magic with Photoshop.

Well, one can see how it got its name. I looked it up and found that it is a sand dune habitat specialist. It is obviously a voracious predator, tackling and carrying insect prey heavier than itself. What it is going to do with this fly is what I’d like to find out. Is it going to suck out all its juices or is it going to bury it and lay eggs in or on it? And what is the purpose of these amazing fan-shaped bristles?

    
Peter Byles.

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