We have had an extraordinary week for 'things that fly'!
Have you EVER seen one of these? We saw two of them and they buzzed around just like little miniature bumblebees.
Robber Fly (Mallophora Orcina)
But that's not what they are! They are not even a bee, they are a FLY! This was the best article I found online HERE.
It's also called a Southern Bee Killer and eats all kinds of bees, including honeybees. It sure looks like something out of an old Sci-Fi movie, doesn't it?
I'll do another post of sightings at Blue Run later but I'll take a few 'flying objects' from different hikes this week.
Great White Egret ready for flight!
Great White Egret
A magical moment!
And no I didn't put a Christmas banner on my blog.
And I didn't go fishin'. My hubby took these two pics and they are straight out of the camera.
It's a 'bobber' caught in the branches of a Cypress tree. It even had a little bit of Spanish moss coming off of it for added decoration. The photos are 'perfection'! (and if I DID go fishin', that's where my bobber would end up! lol)
dragonfly
Have you seen anything 'fly' in your corner of the world this week?
I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE
and I’d Rather B Birdin’.
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42 comments:
Oh my goodness. I wonder if we have those too and I have thought they were bees. Awesome photos. As to the bobber in a tree, while recently breaking in his new boat motor, which required several hours of just riding around, he came home with two pocketfuls of retrieved bobbers. Those were added to his large collection of same (at least a hundred, I kid you not). Some he uses; some he sells and some that just sit there (???).
Have a blessed day.
...how about if your keep you bee killer and alligators down there? Neat images!!!
ihave never seen one of these bumble bee look alikes and hope not to except here. that first shot is just perfect. i can see toes and every tiny hair.. don't let them fly down here ok? that bobber is BEAUTIFUL. daddy had many bobblers in trees but none like this. i did wnder why you had a Chrismtas header.
As a matter of fact, I am having trouble with hornets and as I was blowing the driveway clean with my trusty blower, I had a hornet come right for me repeatedly. I used the blower for protection. I became aware of people watching. Probably because a chubby lady with a blower using some peppery language was quite a sight. So this fly looks something like a bee and eats bees. Very undercover.
Hello
No, I have never even heard of the Robber Fly. It does look like a bumblebee. Your photos are awesome. The "bobber" looks like a Christmas ball. Great dragonfly capture. Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Enjoy your day, wishing you a happy weekend! PS, thanks for visiting and commenting on my blog.
Wow, terrific macro shots of the "fly". The egret is so beautiful.
Amazing photos of the insect critters ~ and love the fishing bobble on the tree (makes it look like a Xmas tree close up)
Be Safe, Be Well,
A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor
Amazing photos of the white egret and bee killer. The bee killer looks like it has shades on. :) Have a great weekend.
OMG! The beee is awesome and certainly new to me.
(I wondered about your banner image, I must confess...) :)
Have a nice and sunny weekend!
No flying bugs here but we did have a suction-cup frog on the front door this week. They are so cute. That fly that looks like a bee should not be killing our honeybees!! We need our honeybees! It does look like something from a sci-fi movie though. Great photo of the bobber in the tree... it would be mine, too! LOL
Diane, That little fly is creepy . I hate things that kill our honey bees. We need bees. The egret was beautiful. I like dragonflies but would not like one to land on me. LOL. Blessings, enjoy your hikes. It is a beautiful day here in Indiana. xoxo, Susie
Wow, gorgeous macro shots!
No, I have never heard of the Robber Fly but he is a very special critter!
Enjoy your day!
Those are scary critters!!!!
The egrets are lovely!
Fascinating! I've never seen one of these. I love the bobber picture. I was fortunate to see the first hummer of the season on my butterfly bush outside my window! Have a lovely evening. Mildred
Love your pictures. I've never noticed that particular bee/fly before, or if I did, I didn't get close enough to get a picture. Very good. Love your flying Egret pictures...they are hard to get. When they fly I usually have to grab my camera and get it focused and by then they are gone! But I did get a good shot of a Great Blue Heron flying this week, so I may just have to post that in my next blog post! Love the bobber in the tree picture! It does look like a Christmas tree! Really neat!! Great photos, oh and I always love to see dragonflies! Cool shot!
That was sure interesting about the Southern Bee Killer. Never heard of that before!!
You sure got some great pictures of it!!
The picture for the header is just perfect. A southern Christmas header it could be.
That fly is a weird looking creature indeed! Nasty thing to kill the honey bees!
Fantastic images! Thanks for sharing.
Hello. Wonderful serie! The first photo is awesome!
Diane. Your pictures of the bee killer are amazing and it's another insect I'd never heard of before. Isn't nature amazing with all its variations and adaptations? Great link too. But yours were the better pictures.
I love your photos.
What a big fly, find it quite scary.
Photo 1 is my favorite.
Best regards Irma
You found some terrific flying critters this week...I'd not believe that is a fly until you told us about it!
Taking time from your day to share this post is appreciated at I'd Rather B Birdin this week...thanks!
I looked twice at the date of your post to make sure you had posted since Christmas. he he. That header had me fooled for sure.
I had to look twice, but I knew that was a bobber, not an ornament. Sure does make a pretty picture! That Robber Fly is scary-looking! Great photos! Love the Egret and Dragonfly photos, too
Have a blessed day!
I've never heard of or seen this Southern Bee Killer. And I hope they never come up here. Your photos are wonderful. You have a wonderful day, hugs, Edna B.
Just incredible!!! I'm speechless! WOW! Have a wonderful week!
That robber fly is fascinating. I've never seen one before. That picture of the bobber looks very Christmasy. A good picture to use for a Christmas card
I think you can keep that fly! Even though the pictures are fantastic. Beautiful egret and I really do like the dragonfly. Certainly have left my fair share of fishing bobbers in the trees. Hope you are finishing up a wonderful weekend.
You took great photos of the flys. I hate flys and bees and glad I haven’t seen any around here. Hope you have a nice week.
your images are amazing this week, really exciting!! i have never heard of nor ever seen a robber fly, oh my what big eyes it has!! beautiful first picture, showing off so many great details!!
the egret is gorgeous and always so elegant!!
That fly is an ugly thing. I have never seen anything like it. We have lots of dragonflies around here. They are my sister's favorite insect. You don't realize how large they are until you see them in person. The egret pictures ae wonderful!
Oh Goodness! That first photo is fantastic! Never saw an insect like that! Gorgeous!
Have a nice week!
Interesantes y bonitas fotos. Por aquí vi varios voladores como mariposas, moscas, abejorros y pájaros de distintas variedades. Besos.
Great photos as always, I enjoyed the bobber story. :-) And very fun photos of it. Merry Christmas.. LOL
that fly really looks weird. Never seen any like it. Glad to see egret and a dragonfly in your area :) But the bobber is out pf place.
Take care, stay safe.
Great series of photographs.
… and yes that bobber in the tree does look Christmassy!
All the best Jan
That Robber Fly was a surprise to see! It looks so much like a bee. I saw a flying ladybug this week and some flying ants which made me worry until I verified they were not termites.
I love the Egret. it's such a magnificent bird.
It's hard to know which I love most -- the fabulous bees or that glorious sequence of egret in flight. Those are hard to come by -- well done! They remind me of angels.
Oh my, that is an awesome photo of the Robber Fly. Yes, it looks like the bumblebee! Look at those eyes. So interesting to look at. And the White Egret is beautiful. I love white birds so. : )
~Sheri
Diane, I could use the huge eyes of the Robber Fly! Love the graceful Egrets! The Dragonfly is amazing. All your Photos are fantastic. It is good you hike, so we can see all the beauty that surrounds us! Love, Aunt Helen
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