Wonders of Nature

Be sure to check back each week as this page will have a new
Featured Creature weekly, with new photos, fun and information to get you
all involved in the wonders of nature.

The answer to each week's Critter Quiz becomes the Featured Creature the following week.

Click HERE - the answer is there waiting for you!

If you have photos that you would like to submit for consideration as the Featured Creature
please email Wonders of Nature

I am a mammal. I am dark-brown to reddish-brown in color with small,
rounded ears. I am solitary and territorial and also nocturnal. I am an
herbivore and eat many different types of vegetation. You are probably
more familiar with a very close relative of mine that is often called a
cottontail because of its white puffball tail. My tail is not white but gray.
Surprisingly to most, unlike my cottontail cousin I am an excellent swimmer
and often dive into the water to escape predators. I am usually found in
wetland areas, like marshes (which gives you a clue to my name).
Who am I?

Matt took these pictures
right in his own backyard.

There are 24 species of
Hanging-thief Robber Flies
in North America and they
are common in Florida. If
you are out trying to spot a
Hanging-thief Robber Fly
some common
characteristics to look for
are long, spiny legs, a dense
moustache of bristles on

because that is where their
favorite prey, small bees and
wasps can be found.
Robber flies have huge
appetites and prey on a
variety of invertebrates, such
as wasps, bees, dragonflies,
mosquitoes, grasshoppers,
other flies, some spiders,
and even butterflies - they all
taste good to a robber fly!
The scientific genus for
these flies is Diogmites.

their face and a space between their two large compound eyes, giving them a
very distinctive look. The best place to look for one of these cool predators
would be areas with lots of flowers. Robber flies in general prefer these areas

· Robber flies are extremely good predators. When they catch their prey, they
stab it with their short, strong proboscis and inject their victims with saliva that
contains enzymes which paralyze and digest the insides; the fly then sucks up
the liquefied meal like sucking soup through a straw.

· Robber flies have a dense moustache on
their face called a mystax, which helps
protect the head and face when the fly
encounters prey that is bent on defending itself.

· There are over 7,000 species of robber
flies world wide; nearly 1,000 in North
America, and more than 100 species right
here in Florida.

· Some species of robber fly are
amazingly fast and agile and can
even catch their insect prey in mid-air!

· The Giant Robber Fly Phellus olgae, from Australia, is one of the largest of fly
species with a wingspan up to 3 inches! That's one big fly!