Do you chase wildlife or do you wait for it to come to you? I tend to be in the former group and will sometimes walk for hours and hours in search of suitable subjects.
On Wednesday, however, the action came to me. I was returning from a walk along a stream hunting for dragonflies and was shocked as I approached my car to see a pair of Red-footed Cannibalflies (Promachus rufipes) mating on my car. I watched in fascination as they moved from one part of the car’s exterior to another, locked in the peculiar tail-to-tail position that robber flies use for mating. (Even before this incident, I knew that I needed to wash my car, as you can readily see in the second photo.)
I must confess that I have long had a fascination with this insect species—there is something really cool and slightly horrifying about the macabre moniker ‘Red-footed Cannibalfly.’ They are fierce predators who reported have been able to take down a hummingbird. They inject their victims with a toxin that paralyzes them and liquifies their insides so that the cannibalfly can more easily ingest their innards. If you are not totally creeped out by now, you might agree that cannibalflies are cool insects.
I have written over 3500 blog postings over the past eight years and my most-viewed regular posting is one that I published in August 2013 with the simple title of “Red-footed Cannibalfly,” with 2595 views. Yes, a lot of people seem to be interested in this insect and somehow find their way to that blog posting each year. It is a good posting, I think, but neither the prose nor the photos are great, but sometimes that doesn’t matter for popularity in this digital world. (You can judge for yourself by clicking on the title of the posting that I linked to the original posting.)
Some of you may have noted that I used the term “regular posting” in describing my posting on the red-footed cannibalfly. In November 2014 I was fortunate to be at a local nature park during the rescue of an injured bald eagle by the animal control officers of the local police department and documented it in a blog posting entitled “Rescue of an injured Bald Eagle.”
Several news outlets picked up the story including the Washington Post , some local radio and television stations, including WTOP, and the Fairfax County Police Department News. A number of them included a link to my blog posting, which had over 3000 views in a couple of days, but has had relatively few views since that time. I had authorized the Police Department to use my posting and photos and as a result of that exposure I was contacted by a number of media organizations asking permission to use my photos, which I agreed to, requesting that they give attribution and, if possible, a link to my blog.
A small number of media organizations, including the Washington Post, used my photos without asking for permission, though the Washington Post did at least give attribution. When I contacted the reporter, he said that he had “assumed” it was ok, because he had obtained the photos through the Police Department site. I have not had to deal with the media since, but know now to be a bit careful in doing so.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
This is an amazing picture!
Thanks.
I find it comically ironic that members of the traditional media wax endlessly regarding the lack of the integrity of the social media bloggers yet they don’t extend the same professional courtesy to us.
No sweat though as the “live and let live” philosophy lets me sleep at night. Soundly.
I too choose not to make an issue of it, but I agree that the situation is comically ironic.
Great image … but as for young people these days, no self control, do it whenever and wherever they feel like it 🙂. Regarding the popularity of your previous post, I suspect there’s some none too salubrious interest out there in cannibalistic behaviour (yuk). My wife posts photos on Flickr, and her pictures of a bird that we Brits call a “tit” but Americans call “titmouse” get more hits than any other. I wonder why?
Regarding the press, I know what you mean. I had plenty of dealings with them in my working life, but was never comfortable about their activities or motives. On the other, look at it on the bright side, you can go to your grave secure in the knowledge that you made it on to the hallowed pages of the Washington Post. Not many of us can claim that!
“My wife posts photos on Flickr, and her pictures of a bird that we Brits call a “tit” but Americans call “titmouse” get more hits than any other. I wonder why?”
Why? Because it makes the hitters titter. 🙂
🙂
Thanks. Alas only to the on-line version of the Washington Post and not the print one. Still, it was pretty cool to get the notice. 🙂
I’ve had a few unauthorized uses of my images but mostly by folks for their personal purposes and not for profit. Usually a painter wants something as a model. Most often I get asked but occasionally not. The one time someone who should have known better was actually The Appalachian Mountain Club. Someone attached to The New England Trail had my permission to use an image of a mountain range on an annual report. The AMC then was told by that person, incorrectly, that it was okay to use it on their trail map of the NET which people have to buy. When I learned of it I contacted the woman in charge and she was embarrassed, apologetic, and offered to pay what I thought was fair. She also sent 3 packets with the map and an unfolded poster sized copy in a tube. You’d think that the WAPO could have at least offered you a free subscription.
Your Red-footed Cannibal Flies must be teenagers doing it wherever. That mating position is pretty common in the insect world which sort of ruins the intimacy. 🙂
I posted some examples in 2015. The third is pretty acrobatic and there is not much keeping them attached.
Nowadays it’s easy for folks to “borrow” images. I have a friend who signed a contract with Nikon to use some of her images and I am amazed at how detailed the specifications were about how they could and could not use her images and for how long. Copyright infringement is a big deal. In the case of the Washington Post, I get the impression that they have the newest people doing the local news for the on-line edition and the more experienced folks work on the print edition. For the record, I already had a subscription, which I have now moved to an electronic one because of the costs, though I still get the hardcopy Sunday edition delivered. As for mating insects, I knew that some used the tail-to-tail position, but did not realize it was pretty widespread.
What fascinating photos. You know I always enjoy your captures of critter behaviour.
Thanks, Laura. You can also see that I drive a pretty brightly colored car that is easy to find in a parking lot full of drab colors. 🙂
I did notice that and think it is a smart move as someone who drives a grey car.
My previous car was even brighter–a Toyota Matrix that was Solar Yellow.
Mr. Mike, Guess What? I almost didn’t get to see these photos cause it was inside of Gem’s spam thing. I’m glad that we found it cause the Cannibalflies are scary but awesome insects! They have long wings and a funny lump on their thorax that looks kind of cool! I looked at the old photos too and they are neat. But I can’t tell what part they use to put the toxin into another insect. Maybe they have fangs or something like a proboscis that can do that. We are going to go and Google to learn more. Thank you and Bye!
I hope you found your answer about how a Red-footed Cannibalfly injects the toxin, Benjamin. This is the best I can find for the moment. “In a smashing display of aerial acrobatics, the fly slams into its airborne quarry stupefying the hapless insect victim. The high-speed collision produces a snapping sound that may be heard several feet away. The fly then grasps its dazed prey with its claws, and uses its piercing-sucking mouthparts to inject saliva containing neurotoxic and proteolytic enzymes. The enzymes paralyze the victim and digest the internal tissues. The fly then lands, and sips the life out of its victim.” (https://bygl.osu.edu/node/511)
Here is another source that describes them as having “beak-like mouth parts” and has some pictures too. https://entomology.ces.ncsu.edu/biological-control-information-center/beneficial-predators/robber-fly/
That/s a great image, Mike. I love reflections and that one is pretty cool.
Thanks, Dan.
Nice Mike! Especially liked the “reflections” image!
Thanks. Shiny metallic objects and glass do wonders for creating cool reflections. 🙂
I’ve seen robber flies several times at the cabin, and they are quite impressive, but these guys seem to be in a separate league. How big are they, please?
This species of robber fly gets to be about an inch and a half, I believe. They look creepy, though, so their fierceness is magnified. Here is a link to one of my favorite photos of a red-footed cannibalfly. https://michaelqpowell.com/2014/08/26/surrounded-by-cannibals/
Great photos, Mike! Great shadow-play on the car. It’s always wonderful when they just appear before you, and in the most surprising of ways. It’s almost like nature knows how real passionate you are about it, and just has to treat you sometimes 🙂
I like to think that is the case with nature, Pete, which is why I try to be alert and ready, even when walking to my car. The shadows on the car were what made these images especially interesting, I believe.
I had to wonder how they tolerated the heat the car must have been radiating! Great info and shadow shots!
They may have been generating heat themselves. 🙂 Thanks, Molly–I too loved the shadows, which made the shots much more interesting.
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