20th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Natural World
Golden-legged mydas fly on rattlesnake master

An evolved bluffer, this uncommon, large, yet harmless vegan fly looks like an intimidating carnivorous wasp, and acts like one, shrugging-away intrusions, even by territorial, true wasps. If tested, this mimic would fail, however, testing is not worth risk for most adversaries. This fly has a wingspan of approximately 5cm (2”).

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 08.2022
Date Uploaded: 11.2022
Photo Location: Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark IV
Copyright: © Gray Rothkopf