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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Flies (Diptera) » Orthorrhapha » Asiloidea » Robber Flies (Asilidae) » Asilinae » Asilus » Asilus sericeus
Photo#9341
Asilus sericeus - male
Copyright © 2004 Cotinis

Asilus sericeus - Male
North Carolina Museum of Life and Science, Durham County, North Carolina, USA
June 15, 2003
This robber fly was perched on a patch of Indian Hemp, Apocynum cannabinum outside of the butterfly garden. This was very attractive to butterflies, beetles, etc. I thought this fly was a Diogmites, but see from Giff Beaton's page on Asilinae that it is Asilus sericeus. Giff has photographed this species in Georgia, also in June. This is a male, based on Giff's photos of both sexes. (Thanks Giff!)

Identification note: A. sericeus is the only species in the genus reported from this area (North Carolina, Georgia). See guide page for references.
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Contributed by Cotinis on 28 December, 2004 - 11:48am
Last updated 18 September, 2022 - 9:18am

Great image
Just wanted to compliment you on the photo:-) I would agree with the ID, but I'm just learning this family.
… Eric R. Eaton, 3 January, 2005 - 3:25pm login or register to post comments

 
Thanks, good light does the trick!
Thanks for the compliment on the photo. As I take more and more photos, I really begin to understand that good light is the key. This was taken with my Nikon point-and-shoot, which normally does not give as pleasing results as my Canon SLR. However I was lucky that day: it was a typical hot, muggy, hazy/smoggy Durham summer day. Though it's not the most pleasant weather to be about in, the diffuse light is very kind for photography. Digitals don't do bright sun well, and this diffuse light was perfect.

I've seen professional nature photographers work a few times, and I've always marveled at how long they spend getting lighting and backgrounds just right.

Patrick Coin
Durham, North Carolina
… Cotinis, 4 January, 2005 - 6:38am login or register to post comments

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