Mostly about my backyard chickens. (Boring, I know), but there are a lot of us out here. Mine are only kept as pampered pets. I could eat a neighbor's chicken, but not MINE. There may be a comment on current events only if I get riled up enough. And there will always be a cartoon or a joke to cheer us. I promise to try my very best to respond to comments. Now I have to figure out how this blogger thingy works....
Photo by:
Phil Devries/
Oxford Scientific Films Ltd.
Robber Fly, any of a family of medium to large predatory flies known for
their fast flight, excellent vision, and their habit of catching large
prey while in flight. Also called assassin flies, they are widely
distributed. There are about 5000 species worldwide and about 900
species in North America.
Robber flies are highly variable in size and body shape, ranging from
0.5 to 5.0 cm (0.2 to 2.0 in) in length. Most species are
slender-bodied, with hunched backs and tapering abdomens; but some are
stout-bodied and hairy, with rounded abdomens, resembling bees. They
have large eyes that face toward the sides, and the top of the head is
typically concave between the eyes.
Robber flies are impressive predators that typically specialize
in flying insects, including wasps, bees, and dragonflies; the prey may
be larger than the robber fly itself. Most robber flies frequent sunny,
open areas and are active during the warmest parts of the day and year.
They perch on branches, logs, stones, or the ground, and rush out to
attack when suitable prey flies by. The robber fly uses its bristly legs
to intercept the prey by grasping it around the head or back. Then,
employing its needlelike mouthparts, the robber fly stabs the prey and
injects a saliva that contains nerve toxins and digestive enzymes. This
quickly paralyzes the prey and liquefies its tissues; the robber fly
then sucks out the prey's insides, much as spiders do. Some robber flies
closely resemble certain species of bumblebees. This may provide the
flies with protection against potential predators, and it may enable the
robber flies to more easily approach and attack the bees themselves.
The larvae, or immature stages, of robber flies are wormlike
predators. They live in soil, rotting stumps and logs, and similar moist
organic material. Larval robber flies live solitarily and in secluded
places, so their ecology and habits are less well known than are those
of the adults. The larvae feed primarily on the eggs and larvae of other
insects, including beetles, grasshoppers, and flies.
Scientific classification: Robber flies
make up the family Asilidae in the insect order Diptera, the true flies.
They are in the suborder Brachycera, along with the bee flies and horse
flies, among others. Most North American bumble bee-mimicking robber
flies are in the genera Laphria and Mallophora.
The photos (except where noted) and
story below are courtesy of Dave Hewitt, who enjoyed his rain soaked
holidays around Seattle.
The Chehalis - Centralia
is a tourist railroad based in Washington State, NW USA. It was
rebuilt on 10 miles of a branch line of the Milwaukee Road, starting in
the mid 1980s, driven by residents of the small town of Chehalis who
wanted to have an attraction based on the area's logging railways.
This is Harold Borovec
in his early 80s in 2008, the engineer on No.15. Now 93, he is still
involved with the railway which he was instrumental in starting.
No.15
was plinthed in the mid 1950s after 40 years as a logging loco at
Chehalis. It was bought in 1985, restored, & has worked trains
since 1989.
Oil-fired No.15 (Baldwin 44106 of 1916) on the line in 2008 (Photo D Hewitt after O Winston Link)
The line features wooden trestle bridges over several river crossings
Cowlitz, Chehalis & Cascade Railway was the former operator. (photo Drew Sacksich)
In 2011, No.15 heading away from Chehalis
Perhaps typical logging country - the Pacific NW has a high rainfall
The stock has been collected & refurbished by the townsfolk
Approaching Ruth, now the end of the line
Photos taken in 2008 & 2011 courtesy of Dave Hewitt
The Cowlitz, Chehalis
& Cascade Railway was incorporated in 1916 as successor to the
Washington Electric Railway. The first 18 miles were opened from
Chehalis to Onalaska in 1918 and the final 14 miles to Cowlitz was
finished in 1928. The total projected line was 170 miles, but it never
got beyond the 32 miles. It was abandoned without ever owning a
diesel. The first locomotive on the CC&C was a 2-8-2 (mikado).
This locomotive was built by Baldwin in 1916 for the Clear Lake Lumber
Co. at Clear Lake, in Skagit County, WA and was lettered for the Puget
Sound and Cascade Railway with the road number 200. As No.200, it was
put to work hauling logs on Clear Lake's mainline until Clear Lake
Lumber went bankrupt. Number 200 was repossessed by Baldwin in 1926
and resold to the Cowlitz, Chehalis & Cascade Railway which
renumbered it to 15. It was donated to the city of Chehalis about 1955
and around 1988 was restored to operating condition in the Mt.
Rainier's Mineral Shops for use on the Chehalis-Centralia Railroad
Association line in Chehalis, WA. (steamlocomotive.com)
