Can you identify this insect? At first glance it looks a little bit like a dragonfly, but if you look more closely you may notice that the wings and eyes are different from those of a dragonfly and this insect’s body is a lot hairier. This is a robber fly and I am pretty sure that it is a variety known as a Red-footed Cannibalfly (Promachus rufipes). Yikes!
Red-footed Cannibalflies are one of the coolest and creepiest insects that you can encounter in the wild. As their macabre moniker suggests, Red-footed cannibalflies usually feed on other insects, but they reportedly are capable of taking down a hummingbird. Thankfully I have never seen that happen, since I really like hummingbirds, but several years ago I did photograph a Red-footed Cannibalfly with a large Hummingbird Moth that it had captured (see my 2017 posting Demise of a hummingbird moth).
A posting that I did in 2013 entitled “Red-footed Cannibalfly” amazingly has been one of my most popular postings ever, with almost 3300 views to date. Apparently more people search for information about Red-footed Cannibalflies that I would have anticipated.
I captured this image last Thursday as I was exploring some of the trails at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge in Northern Virginia.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
He does have a bit of a dangerous vibe going there.
It’s amazing to me how you can capture such small creatures in an extraordinary way! I see all the details of an insect in which I knew little about. Well-done, Mike! You are so gifted!
Nice photo of one of my favorite Robbers.
I smiled when I read your comment, Wally. Not too many people can say they have a favorite robber fly. 🙂
Great image! I also love hummingbirds but nevertheless I would be very curious to see a cannibalfly take one down.
I searched all around for detailed info and/or photos about a cannibalfly actually taking down a hummingbird, but most of the references seemed to anecdotal in nature. I remember in the past seeing a jumping spider with a dragonfly, a much bigger prey, so I guess it is possible that a smaller predator, like a cannibalfly could take down something the size of a hummingbird.
Well now what I really want to see is a spider versus a hummingbird!
Beautiful post
Thanks.