5
Bees That Are Actually Bee-Murdering Flies
University of Florida
Robber flies are the serial killers of the fly world. Luckily, their victims are other insects that we commonly see as "pests," so we guess they're like the Dexter of animal murderers.
Thomas Shahan
i.e., their optimal lifespan is between one and three years.
They mostly prefer the taste of bees and wasps, so some species of robber fly have evolved thicker bodies and colored fuzz to look exactly like bees:
Bob Peterson
Unlike you, who have a thicker body and fuzz because you prefer the taste of Doritos.
This is the animal equivalent of murdering a teenager and wearing their skin in an attempt to convince the other kids at the food court that it's totally safe to get in your "rad van of safety and not dismemberment."
The Wyliea mydas species of robber fly not only pretties itself up like a wasp, it mimics that real-life Fallout enemy, the tarantula hawk. It isn't called a "tarantula hawk" because it kind of looks like a tarantula or because it loves the work of Portuguese metal band Tarantula -- it fucking eats giant spiders.
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