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Bee-eating Robber Fly
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Bee-eating Robber Fly

by Andrey Antov

Gallery: Macro & Close-upPosted October 10, 2014161 views3 comments
I could not help it but notice the many bees pollinating the yellow blooming bush-size Chamisa flowers in New Mexico's Bandelier National Park. As I was walking through a meadow full of these bushes I was surprised by the carnivorous nature of giant robber flies resting on the red soil below the Chamisas, and from time to time taking off and catching bees, which were moving from one bush to another.

Nikon D7000, 60mm Micro Nikkor, C-PL filter, handheld

Comments

3 comments
Comment posted by Jim Zablotny on October 11, 2014 at 6:15 AM
Hi Andrey,

This is a good natural history shot of predation in the insect world. Detail of the body is good and the background is soft enough to isolate the subject. I'd like to see a little more space on the bottom of the shot--just a personal preference. I have never been able to sneak up on one of these guys so you did quite well with your 60mm micro......................................Jim
Registered on January 17, 2004, 705 Posts, 3594 Comments
Comment posted by scott lanz on October 12, 2014 at 7:02 AM
Wonderful capture of this dynamic insect behavior. :toast:
Registered on November 14, 2003, 840 Posts, 12902 Comments
Comment posted by Mark Seaver on October 12, 2014 at 12:50 PM
What an interesting and fun observation of behavior. Your technique here is great with getting very close to this action and getting the camera parallel to the fly. Very well done.
Registered on January 23, 2011, 1103 Posts, 17270 Comments