After taking a picture of a strange looking whiskered insect, I took the photo to someone who’d once worked for an entomologist. I didn’t expect him to know what it was, but he surprised me.
“It’s an assassin fly.”
Instantly he pulled out his phone and showed me.
I read in disbelief.
In my ordinary yard, I had discovered an assassin fly. They have a venom that scientists don’t entirely understand and it liquifies their prey.
In my yard.
What precautions should I take? How dangerous is the bite? Will I be able to go outside without dressing like a beekeeper?
Then I read further. There’s over 7000 different species and they’ve been around 120 million years…give or take.
I will be able to sleep tonight, and so will little Wilfred. That’s what I named him.
“It’s an assassin fly.”
Instantly he pulled out his phone and showed me.
I read in disbelief.
In my ordinary yard, I had discovered an assassin fly. They have a venom that scientists don’t entirely understand and it liquifies their prey.
In my yard.
What precautions should I take? How dangerous is the bite? Will I be able to go outside without dressing like a beekeeper?
Then I read further. There’s over 7000 different species and they’ve been around 120 million years…give or take.
I will be able to sleep tonight, and so will little Wilfred. That’s what I named him.
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