The Robber fly has caught a Black Soldier fly and used her mouthparts to pierce the thorax of the soldier fly and feed on its body fluids.
Let's take a look at them in more detail:
Firstly, the predator is very common in the garden, probably a member of genus Daspletis although they more commonly prey on bees and wasps. The one above is a female and the one pictured below is a male. You can see the large genital appendage at the end of his abdomen
The one below is a female, like the fly in the first picture
Looking at the hairs and hooks on the legs, its clear that this is a predator that pounces on prey in flight and doesn't let go easily. The piercing mouthpart is also visible.
On to the prey:
Hermetia illucens or Black Soldier flies are highly beneficial insects for a gardener. The adults seldom feed and survive only to mate and lay eggs. The larvae feed on rotting vegetable matter but unlike other fly species their body secretions don't promote bacterial rot so they break down compost without causing an unhygienic smelly mess. The adults are also not bacteria carriers so having them around doesn't promote unsanitary conditions.
These strange looking creatures are pupae of the flies and despite the fact that they don't have legs, they travel easily through rotten vegetable matter with an undulating motion of the segments.
Black soldier flies are wasp mimics, which protects them from predators such as birds or toads but not other insects that normally prey on wasps.
All images my own
References:
Identification - Picker, Griffiths, Weaving: Field Guide to Insects of South Africa
Black Soldier Flies on Wikipedia https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hermetia_illucens
What a grisly beginning to a wonderful blog. If you never wrote a word, the pictures alone would be fantastic. But your description, may I call it a lesson (for me), is fascinating. I will no longer disdain flies as a category. Black soldier fly (why soldier?). The best part I think was the description (and picture) of the pupae.
Reblogging this wonderful post...and sharing on Twitter. Hope the picture shows up there. Catch more 'flies' that way :)
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Thanks! Flies are a very important part of an ecosystem. I can't answer why it is called a soldier fly
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
This post has been voted on by the SteemSTEM curation team and voting trail. It is elligible for support from @curie and @minnowbooster.
If you appreciate the work we are doing, then consider supporting our witness @stem.witness. Additional witness support to the curie witness would be appreciated as well.
For additional information please join us on the SteemSTEM discord and to get to know the rest of the community!
Please consider using the steemstem.io app and/or including @steemstem in the list of beneficiaries of this post. This could yield a stronger support from SteemSTEM.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Thank you!
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Interesting to see and read. They must be grateful that their gardener knows so much about them :D
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Nah, they just go about their lives
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
You have been curated by @hafizullah on behalf of Inner Blocks: a community encouraging first hand content, with each individual living their best life, and being responsible for their own well being. #innerblocks Check it out at @innerblocks for the latest information and community updates, or to show your support via delegation.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
A very interesting post about the life of insects.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Very interesting I learn something new - about flies, today. 😊
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Flies are an extremely important family of insects
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
I understand. Thanks for you reply.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Awesome insight into your garden 😍
I have had soldier fly larvae in an above ground compost before, they do a great job!!
Posted using Partiko Android
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Excellent creatures. My brothers were keen on farming them at one stage
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
it's mating season huh
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Nope
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Great photos and an interesting post!
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Thanks!
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
You just got to love beneficial insects. I am jealous that you found a robber fly with its prey and a fly grub. Lucky you! Great photos too. Thanks for using #butterflyday tag @nikv. : )
I posted male and female robber flies a couple of weeks ago but your photos are so much better.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
@whatisnew:
Your influence, far and wide :)
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Thanks for making me smile AG! : )
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Happy New Year, friend.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Thanks, my friend AG! Wishing you a healthy and happy New Year and New Decade! Hugs!
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
I'm smiling too ! :)
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
@agmoore always makes everyone smile with her wonderful comments. : )
Keep smiling! : )
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Far & wide - yes indeed !!!!!!!!!!!!
Hugs
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Thanks, I remember your flies, that's where I first learned to tell the difference :)
There are so many fat, lazy robber-flies in my garden, they are very easy to photograph. They hang around hunting bees and wasps, which are plentiful too
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
I am happy to hear that I could help. I love it when people learn something from my posts. : )
It is good to know that you have so many bees and wasps. I am worried about their decline.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
I try my best to stay away from routine pesticide use. Sigh
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Yay! I am very happy to hear that. : )
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Saludos. Muy buenas imágenes amiga @nikv. Y la información me encanta. Puedo ver esta mosca negra en mi jardín y no sabía que era beneficiosa.
Greetings. Very good images friend @nikv. And I love the information. I can see this black fly in my garden and I didn't know it was beneficial.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Thank you :) I also learned about them recently. I don't usually see so many but they were feasting after I cut the ombú tree down and it started to rot
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Ah una fiesta de oportunistas jejejeje.
Ah a party of opportunists hehehehe.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
😊
Wow..!
Absolutely amazing pictures @nikv
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Thank you!
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Amazingly clear photos :-)
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Thanks! The cellphone has its uses ;)
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Wow! More scary than snakes!!
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Not really, none of these creatures bite humans
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Okay! But they don’t look very attractive! LoL
They need a face lift!
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
No, they are perfect as they are!
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Nature is amazing and harsh!
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Yes!
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit