Gaillardia World: Other Predators

There were other predators, apart from spiders, that came to Gaillardia pulchella, June-October 2022. 

 

These included Robber Flies, Damselflies, Dragonflies, and Lacewings.

Robber Flies (Family Asilidae) are impressive looking individuals:  

BugGuide.net identified this Robber Fly as a "Hanging-Thief,"

belonging to the genus Diogmites.

  (S)he is perched on a Gaillardia seedhead by the barn,  

August 1, 2022.  

Here is a video of this Hanging-Thief, missing a bee fly but then catching a damselfly:

Robber Fly hunting, August 1, 2022.

Damselflies also used Gaillardia pulchella as a hunting ground.  Here is a damselfly that tried it out briefly on July 16, 2022:

   

Maybe the hunting wasn't good or maybe there was a creepy feeling because this damselfly didn't stay long.  The sense of danger was well justified as two weeks later another damselfly ventured into the Gaillardia and was eaten by a Robber Fly.   

Dragonflies, Order Odonata, Infraorder Anisoptera, also hunted over and around Gaillardia.   Here are clips of male Widow Skimmers (Libellula luctuosa) frequenting the  native plant garden in our front yard: 

Male Widow Skimmers sport white patches mid-wing as they

patrol a patch of volunteer Gaillardia, July 4-5, 2022.

Perhaps tiny prey-insects swirled above the Gaillardia, as there were dragonflies zipping back and forth over the blossoms.   But whatever they were hunting was too small for me to see.   The most prominent dragonflies were male Widow Skimmers.

Toward the end of the season, Green Lacewings (Family Chrysopidae) appeared on the Gaillardia.

A Green Lacewing comes face to face with a tiny wasp on Gaillardia 

flowers, just going to seed.   It was unclear what was on the agenda of 

either creature, as their antennae explored each other.   Sept. 28, 2022. 

Lacewings, as the name suggests, are delicately beautiful.   The larvae feed on other insects, and some adults are predacious as well, while others eat pollen and nectar.  Green Lacewings are members of the family Chrysopidae.  

The lacewings that appeared on the Gaillardia by the barn this summer did not appear to be either hunting or foraging, at least while the camera was rolling.   Their antennae kept moving, taking in information:

Green Lacewings investigating Gaillardia, Sept. 25-28, 2022