Hanging Thief (Diogmites neoternatus)

Flying around the edge of a dense mixed hardwood/coniferous forest in NW Georgia (Gordon County), US.

Adult Hanging Thieves are ambush predators, intercepting the flight of other insects after patiently sitting at rest (what this lovely individual seems to be doing). After capturing prey, this fly feeds by hanging (suspended by one or both front legs) from the stems or leaves of plant branches.

I watched this individual for a few minutes. It perched on this fallen oak branch, watching small insects buzz by. Its head rotated quickly when it noticed other insects flying!