Went for a walk around Walka Water Works with my daughter and son-in-law today and managed to capture 2 birds I haven't photographed before. The 1st was a pair of Black-fronted Dotterels. Walka Water Works - Wikipedia
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Walka Water Works
- Thread starter John53
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A fly of some sort. The venation in the wings is pretty distinct. It might be useful in identifying the species, if I had a key.
It was about 50 to 60mm long and there were hundreds of cicadas calling in that spot.
Something about it makes me want to identify it as a robber fly, but that is just a wild guess.
That's a big fly, but not out of the realm of a robber fly and it may have been there for the cicadas.
It was smaller than other cicadas I've seen. I was assuming cicada because of the mind melting amount of screaming going on around me. I'm sure you're right.
The more I look at pictures of Australian robber flies, but more convinced I am that it is one of those.
The Colepa specie in these photos of robber flies have a similar wing venation.
Robber flies (Asilidae) - Canberra Nature Map
It's good to have an entomologist for a mate. I thought I'd seen a common old cicada, robber fly is far more interesting.
The more you look at insects, you start to see general patterns that help identify them to order or family. But those are initial instincts and must be verified as best as possible. I might be right. I think I am. But identification from images and without keys is always at least half guess work.
I'm not sure what you mean by keys. I'm guessing not the car keys.
Nice work. Looks very similar to your photo. Robber flies have some distinct profiles. They are predators often with lots of color and often fairly large. Some of the bee mimics are very good mimics.
A dichotomous key to families, genera or species often using characters that require examination under a microscope and sometime dissection.
Many species are separated based on the structure of the male genitalia. You get to be an expert in bug junk.
Here are some examples of keys for insects. They exist for a lot of plant and animal groups to help with identification.
Key to adult insects - Amateur Entomologists' Society (AES)
https://frst307.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2017/09/Dichotomous-key-to-Orders.pdf
https://extension.entm.purdue.edu/401Book/pdf/order_pictorial_key.pdf
I haven't looked, but there may be some available for Australian insects. It wouldn't surprise me.
Subduction Zone
Veteran Member
Great pictures as usual. But the fly picture was outstanding.
It's an attractive little bird. I'm guessing little. I was going to guess about the size of a killdeer, but you may not know that species for it to be of use in relative measurement.
He's such an ornate little fellow. I don't think I can recall an American species with that sort of blue on it.