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Project Noah Nature School
Promachus hinei
This large Robber Fly has a butterfly as a meal. It is large enough to subdue and carry the butterfly. All robber flies have stout, spiny legs, a dense moustache of bristles on the face (mystax), and 3 simple eyes (ocelli) in a characteristic depression between their two large compound eyes. The mystax helps protect the head and face when the fly encounters prey bent on defense. The short, strong proboscis is used to stab and inject victims with saliva containing neurotoxic and proteolytic enzymes which paralyze and digest the insides; the fly then sucks the liquefied meal through the proboscis.
Wildlife corridor that is at the edge of Lake Lewisville. Riparian hardwood forest.
Thanks Cindy for reminding me to put Buguide reference. I did it on the spotting earlier where two were mating, but forgot on this one.
Spotted on Jun 20, 2012
Submitted on Jun 21, 2012
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