robber flies

6159     What is this??   mating strange pair!  Holly

These are robber flies (Diptera: Asilidae); likely in the genus Promachus – see https://tinyurl.com/yddn9x4h for an example. Robber flies are ambush predators that simply wait until a potential meal flies/wanders into striking distance. They then fly out, nab their victim, and bring it back to their perch for a leisurely meal.  Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.