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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Flies (Diptera) » "Orthorrhapha" (Brachycera excluding Aschiza and Schizophora) » Asiloidea » Robber Flies (Asilidae) » Asilinae » Proctacanthus » Proctacanthus brevipennis
Photo#142144
Robber fly - Proctacanthus brevipennis
Copyright © 2007 Jeff Gruber

Robber fly - Proctacanthus brevipennis
Spring Green Preserve SNA, Sauk County, Wisconsin, USA
August 31, 2007
Size: > 1 in.
I came upon this robber fly on the sandy path. It did not fly off as I approached. I got closer and closer with my camera and it still did not fly off. I was able to nudge it onto my finger for some close-ups. When I looked at the photos, I noticed the damaged terminalia and brownish substance in 2 spots near the right eye and on the right femora. Possibly a mating gone bad?

Images of this individual: tag all
Robber fly - Proctacanthus brevipennis Robber fly - Proctacanthus brevipennis Robber fly - Proctacanthus brevipennis
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Contributed by Jeff Gruber on 2 September, 2007 - 1:37pm
Last updated 5 September, 2007 - 6:51am

Hoping
This is Proctacanthus brevipennis. Very unusual terminus. Maybe that is where the name comes from. Though I guess that would have be penis and not pennis.
… Herschel Raney, 3 September, 2007 - 1:35pm login or register to post comments

Nice images!
especially of the head view! What equipment, settings (f-stop) did you use for the head macro to get the good eye facets detail?

I won't even try guess the Genus of your robberfly, because I am usually wrong. Herschel Raney will probably see your posting and ID it for you.
… John Cowsar Jr, 3 September, 2007 - 10:59am login or register to post comments

 
Thanks
Thanks John.

The quality of the shot is entirely due to the cooperation and size of the subject. It was very lethargic (and possibly injured?) when I found it on the sandy trail. Fortunately it did not fly off when I nudged it onto my finger. I was able to orient it to get the best possible light conditions and to put my camera as close as possible.

I shoot with a Canon A630 8mp digital point-and-shoot. I do not recall the settings at the time of the shot. Sorry.
… Jeff Gruber, 4 September, 2007 - 12:18pm login or register to post comments

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