Male scorpion fly and lunch

[bugmeister]

Until today I never realised what scorpion flies ate!

 

Apparently they normally eat dead insects and are not above stealing them from spider's webs.  Here, the spider had caught, decapitated and partially dismembered a damselfly when along came a scorpion fly to steal his lunch.

 

The spider kept popping into view as if trying to chase away the scorpion fly but was totally ignored.

 

 

Canon 5D mkII, Sigma 105mm f2.8, Canon MR14 ring flash @ 1/1000s @ f16 (50% of frame)

 

 

Canon 5D mkII, Canon MPE-65, Canon MR14 ring flash @ 1/1000s @ f16 (90% of frame)

 

[Paul]

Poor damsels - they don't half get their comeuppance!

 

Great spot though - scorpion flies are common, but elusive.

 

Paul.

[Kobione]

Great catch, Bugs - don't think I've seen a Scorpion Fly before.

[Brian]

Great shots. Can't blame the spider though for keeping his head down. That sting looks very impressive.

....and I thought we had all the nasties!

[bugmeister]

Great shots. Can't blame the spider though for keeping his head down. That sting looks very impressive.

....and I thought we had all the nasties!

hehe, Although that's how the scorpion fly gets it's name, the 'sting' is totally harmless. The bits on the end are the grabbers by which he holds the female during mating.

[Brian]

hehe, Although that's how the scorpion fly gets it's name, the 'sting' is totally harmless. The bits on the end are the grabbers by which he holds the female during mating.

I bet the females don't think they're so harmless!

[annie]

Wonderful pictures of nature in action bugs.

 

I'm not sure but I think Scorpion Flies are the only insect that can creep into a spider web, nick it's grub and creep back out. They just don't get stuck!

[Barbara]

It's a cruel world

[seajunky]

Fantastic shots. I managed to photograph one last year, Elusive indeed, but harmless, unless you stuck in a web