Brutal, Brutal I Tell You, the Heat

Ray has pretty much given up on identifying the CB robber flies.  Nevertheless, he follows their progress.  Today's featured robber went for a swim in the water pot, fixing to avoid the terrible heat.  Course, she couldn't get out by herself after she went in.

This particular robber fly species is the first to appear in the spring.  It is on the small side, 16-18mm and slender.  It likes the shade and the dark.  We have a picture of a pair fornicating on a window screen at night; the only robbers we have ever seen out in the stygian darkness.