Robber Fly

Much cooler today - thank goodness - but still overcast and gloomy. But at least it was dry, so we headed off to Brownhill Creek Conservation Park to see what we could see.

There is a big controversy raging about Brownhill Creek. "They" want to build a dam, damn it. Just because they reckon that one day there might be a flood. A dam in Brownhill Creek will not prevent flooding from short, intense rainfall over the urban catchment. In order to prevent flooding, downstream channel works, including diversion culverts, must be undertaken. If "they" did that, there wouldn't be any need for a dam and this very precious resource would be protected for future generations to enjoy.

It was quite idyllic there today. We saw lots of people jogging and walking dogs and riding their bikes (not all at the same time), quite a few hundred Common Brown Butterflies, a cricket (the insect, not the game), a white faced heron, some people putting up a sign against the dam, and this gorgeous robber fly, who just happened to land on the windscreen of the car.

Robber Flies (Asilidae sp) are "good" flies. They feed mainly on other insects and they largely wait in ambush and catch their prey in flight. There are more than 7000 described species, the world over, so the chances of me IDing this one particular species is pretty remote. It's a "he" and not a "she", that much I do know.

I have learnt one very important thing today - clean the windscreen of the car - it's very dirty! See more dirt.