Proctacanthus rufus

High school (ages 12+)
Animals & Nature

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/proctacanthus-rufus

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the scientific name?Proctacanthus rufus
2. What is the diet?Primarily other flying insects, including flies, bees, and wasps, captured mid-air
3. What does Proctacanthus rufus look like?It has a bright red tail and a dark body, with large compound eyes that help it see well.
4. How does it catch its food?It waits on a high spot, watches for flying insects, then swoops in quickly to grab them mid‑air.

Asilidae: The scientific family name for robber flies, characterized by their predatory nature and specialized hunting adaptations.
Aerial Insectivore: An animal that primarily feeds on insects caught while flying.
Biological Control: The use of natural predators or parasites to control populations of pests or unwanted organisms.