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Photo#119854
Small Scavengers

Small Scavengers
Central Park, New York City, New York, USA
June 10, 2007
Size: 2 mm.+/-
Three small flies cautiously approaching a Robber Fly eating prey. In the second photo, I think the one that was approaching from the front is under the prey.
Unfortunately, I spooked the group when I tried to get a lateral shot.

Images of this individual: tag all
Small Scavengers Small Scavengers Small Scavengers

A free meal, or someone else's dessert?
Were I a small fly, I wouldn't want to find out.

 
Were I that small fly, I would pick (a)!
Looks like this Robber is being attended by Milichiid Flies. See this post and comments.

 
Whoa! Tales of kleptoparasitism.
Fascinating links.

 
Living Dangerously
Thanks for the comments, ID help, and link. I checked through the Milichiid Flies in the Guide. They certainly live on the edge! Someplace recently I saw some reference to critters that are below the size threshold of certain predators, thus safe from them.

 
Size matters,speed too.
I forgot to mention how slowly they approach. It is 17 seconds between first & second photos.
Less than 10mm. in 17 seconds is barely perceptible. A reference says that most of the 900+ speciies of NA Robber Flies take only flying prey. There are only a few that take stationary objects.

 
Any idea what the prey was?
Pentatomid perhaps? Any photos from that side? Should we move these to Milichidae?

 
Yes, please move.
The ID to family seems good, thanks to Stephan and previous submissions. As I mentioned above, it was when I tried to get a shot from the side that I spooked them, so no info on prey. Robber Fly prey in this particular location in the park is 90% Diptera, with the rest Hymenoptera, because that's what's here. Also small bugs they don't seem to bother with. Other locations in the park differ.

 
"Right into the Danger Zone"
Yeah, the Robber Fly is probably too preoccupied to contend with the Milichiids. Besides, it's not economical at all to start catching them when you're already sating yourself over a much bigger meal!

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