Predator Versus Prey Robber Fly Versus Hummingbird

Latest Predator Versus Prey. Felt the details were important for the young people to see such as the hair and grasping foot pads on the Robber Fly and iridescent effect of Hummer feathers. Also note the small yellow thingy that looks like miniature wings (there is one on the other side) on the Robber Fly, which is a true fly. One way to tell if you are looking at a true fly is to count wings -- flies have only two functional wings. Their other pair of wings have shrunken into drumstick-like organs called halteres. Halteres function as gyroscopes that help flies orient themselves in flight. Like a balance and guidance system, they measure torque and angular momentum around the body. This is how they turn on a dime contrasted against wasps which make a more round turn while navigating.