who is feeding who?

[teokf]

shot this robber fly with a fly as it's prey and it has a ticks (correct me if I am wrong) feeding on it. Please do leave any comments, critique or suggestions for improvement.

[tbob]

Those seem to be mites to me. Very fascinating. I particularly like the second, very sharp and great colour.

[Geoff F]

Or bits of pollen/flower debris.

The second shot is definitely a classic insect photo.

[Bobobird]

Agreed, the 2nd is great.

[Jack R Mann]

Great shots Steve, #2 is outstanding and i see no room for improvement.

[Steve S]

#2 is a great shot steve. Very interesting as well. I wouldn't have noticed the mite or what ever it is, if you hadn't mentioned it.

I usually see bugs like this a little flatter, and with less detail.

[Ken Curtis]

#2 is one of the best insect shots I have ever seen. Good work, Steven.

[teokf]

thanks for all the kind words.

Trevor, I think you might be correct that it is a mite. There are actually three of it. Two on the robber fly's right side

Geoff, I should have been more specific. I mean the red dot under the robber fly's head

[Geoff F]

Ah, I see what you mean, Steven. I initially though that was part of the fly's colouration.

Phoretic mites, by the look of them; can't remember if that is the correct spelling though. I often see them on harvestmen. They don't harm the host and merely use it as a means of transport to another area.

Haven't seen any on UK Robber Flies though. Bees often get a different form of mites; and there are beetle larvae which spread themselves around in similar ways.