Owl flies actually do exist

THE owl fly is probably one of the strangest looking flying creatures you will see.

“For many years I have been wanting to see one, but did not even know if they occur in Durban, until two years ago,” Warren Dick said.

“While walking through the forest of the Kenneth Stainbank Nature Reserve, I got a glimpse of one as it landed on a tree in front of me, but as I bent down to take a photo, it fl ew off , never to be seen again. After lots and lots of searching I finally found another one at the dawn of November, its camouflage rendering it almost invisible on the bark of a tree.”

ALSO READ: (Pictures) Learn more about the stiletto fly in this week’s nature’s calling column

“Just like antlions, lacewings and dragonflies, owl flies are aerial predators that catch and eat other small insects. Owl flies are mostly active at night. They are sometimes attracted to lights which they will use as a hunting spot as other insects are attracted to the light. This particular species is around two inches in size.”

“Owl fly larvae resemble antlion larvae, however they do not dig into the ground, put prefer to stay on the ground, mostly in leaf litter where they ambush small insects to eat. The larvae usually stick various debris such as sand and small stones on themselves to aid in camouflage and protection.”

If you would like to have some of your bugs, spiders or snakes identified, call or WhatsApp Warren on 072 211 0353.  

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