PhotoFeed Contest - Macro Photography Round 138 ~ Big Flies Prey on Small Flies

Hello Hivers....

This post is my entry for the macro photography contest hosted by @photofeed. If you'd like to participate, please read the rules here

In the insect world, unseen dramas unfold every day. This macro photo I'm sharing captures one such rare moment: a large fly preying on a smaller one. The larger insect in the photo is known as a robber fly, or in Indonesian, a killer fly. This fly is renowned as a ferocious predator in the insect world. Its slender body, long legs with a strong grip, and large compound eyes help it accurately detect prey.

Robber flies hunt by ambushing prey in midair. Once they detect a target, they quickly glide to catch it with their legs and then inject digestive enzymes through their mouths. These enzymes paralyze the prey and liquefy its body tissue, making it easy to suck up as food. The photo shows a small housefly trapped and helpless in the predator's grasp. This is a vivid example of how the food chain works, even in the insect world, which we often take for granted.

Despite their seemingly cruel appearance, robber flies play a vital role in the balance of the ecosystem. They help control the populations of other insects, including houseflies, grasshoppers, and even bees and butterflies. In other words, assassin flies are natural regulators of insect populations in the wild.

This macro photograph not only showcases the stunning details of the insect world but also reminds us that nature is full of predator-prey interactions. Despite their small size, their lives are no less dramatic than those of larger animals in the forest.

Important Note: I wrote in Indonesian, then translated it using Google Translate. Regards @yayan