Rewilding My Lot

This fierce looking critter (with a body over an inch long) was resting on my new Mexican Olive tree. At first glance I thought it was a spider, but there are only six legs. After iNaturalist ID’ed it as a Robber Fly (genus Diogmites), I had to look again to see the wings which I had not noticed at first.

Robber Flies are ambush predators of other insects. They also have another common name of Hanging Thieves because of their posture when they are eating. Supposedly they hang from one or two of their legs and use the remaining legs and mouth parts to eat their prey.