Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada
 

Register · Log In
HomeGuideID RequestRecentFrassForumsDonateHelp
Clickable Guide
Moths Butterflies Flies Caterpillars Flies Dragonflies Flies Mantids Cockroaches Bees and Wasps Walkingsticks Earwigs Ants Termites Hoppers and Kin Hoppers and Kin Beetles True Bugs Fleas Grasshoppers and Kin Ticks Spiders Scorpions Centipedes Millipedes

Calendar
Upcoming Events

Registration is open for the 2024 BugGuide gathering in Idaho July 24-27

Moth submissions from National Moth Week 2023

Photos of insects and people from the 2022 BugGuide gathering in New Mexico, July 20-24

Photos of insects and people from the Spring 2021 gathering in Louisiana, April 28-May 2

Photos of insects and people from the 2019 gathering in Louisiana, July 25-27

Photos of insects and people from the 2018 gathering in Virginia, July 27-29


Previous events
TaxonomyBrowseInfoImagesLinksBooksData
Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Flies (Diptera) » Orthorrhapha » Asiloidea » Robber Flies (Asilidae) » Asilinae » Bee Killers (Mallophora) » Southern Bee Killer (Mallophora orcina)
Photo#350037
Playing hard to get - Mallophora orcina - male - female
Copyright © 2009 JC Jones

Playing hard to get - Mallophora orcina - Male Female
Spiderweb, Aiken County, South Carolina, USA
September 15, 2009
There were two males following this female around (in addition to me). This male finally ran the other one off.
He would hover about a foot above and behind her and suddenly fly at her and try to grab her, but she would use her wings and front legs to smack him away. She finally flew off with him in hot pursuit.
These are the best images out of about 30 that I took.
If the consensus is that these don't add anything to the guide they can be frassed.

Images of this individual: tag all
Playing hard to get - Mallophora orcina - male - female Playing hard to get - Mallophora orcina - male - female Playing hard to get - Mallophora orcina - male - female
tag · login or register to post comments
Contributed by JC Jones on 7 November, 2009 - 8:47pm
Last updated 11 December, 2011 - 1:43pm

Moved
Moved from Bee Killers.
… norman and cheryl lavers, 11 December, 2011 - 1:43pm login or register to post comments

I enjoyed your robber fly posts of today.
Sorta sorry to say, but I felt the dead one was the winner. This is a fun series, and I hope they're deemed keepers. Reminds me of:
… Ron Hemberger, 7 November, 2009 - 9:43pm login or register to post comments

 
Thanks Ron..
Hopefully, I'll get to see and photograph a live version of the dead one next summer. My other goal is to get better images of the insects I photographed this year. A better camera would help (and steadier hands), but not sure if a new camera is in the budget anytime soon.
It's been a learning experience in more ways than one.
… JC Jones, 7 November, 2009 - 10:51pm login or register to post comments

 
Good goal!
I'm on a similar path - better camera, add a monopod, better lens, add a close-up lens, and finally, new lenses for both my eyes. Now free from glasses, I can hold the camera differently and focus it better. That was quite a surprise. (I guess strength training is next.)
… Ron Hemberger, 7 November, 2009 - 11:43pm login or register to post comments

Comment viewing options
Select your preferred way to display the comments and click 'Save settings' to activate your changes.

Disclaimer: Dedicated naturalists volunteer their time and resources here to provide this service. We strive to provide accurate information, but we are mostly just amateurs attempting to make sense of a diverse natural world. If you need expert professional advice, contact your local extension office.

Contributors own the copyright to and are solely responsible for contributed content.
Click the contributor's name for licensing and usage information.
Everything else copyright © 2003-2024 Iowa State University, unless otherwise noted.

Bugguide is hosted by:

Plant Pathology, Entomology and Microbiology at Iowa State University logo

Printer Friendly Version 		Terms of Use
Privacy Statement
Site Map
Contact