Another Viewing of Robber Fly

This time the resident robber fly (Mallaphora fautrix) flew by my ear as I was noticing that my artichoke plant is resprouting from its base. The large fly landed and assumed its characteristic hunting perch on top of a nearby Phlomis fruticosa plant. It was pretty friendly, or at least not too standoffish, and allowed me a few photos as the honeybees busied themselves with the pentas flowers on the shrub next door to the phlomis. Patience, patience, and then like a shot the robber fly sprang up and captured one bee as it left the pentas never to return home.

This wider photo shows the fly atop the plant, which gives the hunter a good view and clear airspace needed for its aerial attacks.