Hangfly with prey

Description:

A large long-bodied insect with black orange yellow. Incredibly long legs and tarsi with opposed reverse hooks. Maybe 60mm body length but the legs make the total size up to about 100mm. This one has caught a brown rice bug.

Habitat:

Suburban backyard in long grasses.

Notes:

This is not a type of fly as it has four wings. They hunt by hanging onto a plant with their forelegs and waiting until prey flies through within reach. While still hooked with the front legs they then catch the prey with one of their hind pairs of legs - unless they are thinking of offering it to a female as an enticement to mate :) For a better look at the whole creature see http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/157...