also "Prairie Robber Fly"
Diogmites angustipennis
I was looking for bugs from my car in a sandy area on Antelope Island when I saw an insect zoom in like a
robber fly. I grabbed the binoculars and saw a strange creature staring back at me with bright green eyes.
At first I thought it must be a dragonfly because of the colored eyes but then it hit me - it had to be a
"Hanging Thief" (what a great name, huh?) This is my best find EVER. I saw three or four more in the
same area. (I like how its resting its little butt on a pebble.) © Carol Davis, Tuesday, 8-16-2011
I had just this week seen someone submit a photo on Bugguide and thought how neat it would be if we had
them in Utah but it didn't appear to be the case. I found out later that the species Diogmites angustipennis
is the only one recorded in Utah. These insects can be found hanging off of a branch with one long foreleg
and holding their prey with the other five legs, thus the name "Hanging Thief". I didn't see any of them
catch an insect while I was there but, like most robber flies, they'll eat anything they can catch. They
wouldn't let me in close for a good photo...maybe next time (I can only hope there will be a next time!) I
found no other robber flies this day, which is unusual for this time of year. © Carol Davis, 8-16-2011
Home - Insects and Bugs of Utah
Other Home - Amazing Nature