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Project Noah Nature School
Tipula abdominalis
2 large crane flies mating, see photos 4, 5
temperate forest
I spotted these 2 crane flies mating on a tree trunk while hiking with fellow ranger ForestDragon, in Short Hills National Park. It was cool to see them and they were easy to photograph, as they weren't moving, but it got even better. As we were standing there, a large bald-faced hornet swooped in and broke them apart, taking one of them to ground. They wrestled and fought on the dusty trail as we stood in amazement and shock. What timing! Eventually the wasp was able to fly away with it. Talk about seeing nature in action!
The ending for the female, food for the Bald-faced Hornet.
http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/144...
Thanks bayucca, looks like J nailed it. Thanks Cindy and Tamar for the ID of the culprit.
Dan, I took some photos of the wasp at the time of the incident and after doing some observations in my garden as well I believe it was a Bald-faced Hornet that caused all the mayhem and carnage!
Spotted on Aug 25, 2013
Submitted on Nov 3, 2013
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