Red-footed Cannibalfly

I believe I have blipped a robber fly before. But this one is special because it has caught a grasshopper! We went late for our walk today because it was raining this morning, so The Husband went into town, and then when he got back the sun was out. Going late meant that the insects were more active than they usually are in the cool of the early morning. There were so many grasshoppers hopping around in the hayfield that it was like walking in a popcorn popper! And so many grasshoppers meant it was good hunting for this guy. The red-footed cannibalfly is one of the large family of robber flies.

Today was great for monarch butterflies as well. I saw two, maybe three (unless I saw the same one in the hayfield both going and coming) on our walk. And then a brief survey of my milkweed patches produced two female butterflies and six caterpillars getting fat. Yippee! See extras