File:Florida Bee Killer (Mallophora bomboides) (7721371126).jpg

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Summary

Description I've been stalking this elusive fly for several months but still have not been able to get close to one. Mallophora are formidable hunters, patrolling their territory in low-flying and surprisingly fast patterns like noisy, fuzzy, mini-helicopters. They mimic bumblebees and capture bees, wasps and other flying insects for food. There is even a documented case of one species capturing and eating a hummingbird. They are in the robber fly family (Asilidae). I got within 5 feet of this one then leaned, stretched out my arms and held my breath for the shot, just before it buzzed away.
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Florida Bee Killer (Mallophora bomboides)

Author Bob Peterson from North Palm Beach, Florida, Planet Earth!
Camera location26° 52′ 13.3″ N, 80° 03′ 41.45″ W Kartographer map based on OpenStreetMap.View this and other nearby images on: OpenStreetMapinfo

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This image, originally posted to Flickr, was reviewed on 14 February 2013 by the administrator or reviewer File Upload Bot (Magnus Manske), who confirmed that it was available on Flickr under the stated license on that date.

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4 August 2012

26°52'13.303"N, 80°3'41.450"W

0.01364256 second

33.1 millimetre

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current17:34, 14 February 2013Thumbnail for version as of 17:34, 14 February 20131,024 × 1,024 (1,020 KB)File Upload Bot (Magnus Manske)Transferred from Flickr by User:Jacopo Werther

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