Robber fly
Asilidae
Robber fly · Brooklyn Botanic Garden · 13 August 2026
A robber fly on a lookout perch in the August border, family Asilidae, an ambush predator of other insects found on sunny open ground everywhere.
They take prey out of the air from a perch like this one, killing with a stabbing bite from a short, stout proboscis rather than the sponging mouthparts of most flies. The bearded face is a genuine adaptation: bristles that shield the eyes from a struggling victim.
Birds, insects, plants and other wildlife, mostly from Brooklyn, with some from further afield.
Selected
Favourite shots. Filter by subject, or .
Places
Everything, by where it was taken.
Species
Larger catalogue of photos organized by species of animal or plant, .
Catalogue
Every photograph, newest first. Type to find something, or narrow it by period, place or species.
Updates
Coming soon. Sign up at the bottom of the page for updates.