Action Photo: Hanging Thief eats Wasp!!!

Subject: Giant Ichneumon?
Location: Columbia, Maryland
August 2, 2012 3:48 pm
This bug rose helicopter-like up from the darkness of my garden weeds, leveled off, and flew away with it’s victim. An assassin bug? Looks like some pictures you have of an Ichneumon.
Signature: Linda

Hanging Thief captures Wasp

Hi Linda,
This is sure an impressive action photo.  The predator is a Robber Fly in the genus Diogmites, a group commonly called Hanging Thieves.  The prey is some species of wasp.  Hanging Thieves get their common name from their habit of feeding on prey while hanging from a single leg.

Hi,
Thank you so much for such an instant response!
I like to take pictures of butterflies and occasionally “bugs.”  I just wish i had had the presence of mind to switch to video or off my macro setting to auto focus sports on my camera.  But at least I got one shot in focus.
Linda

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Location: Maryland