Meet the downlooker snipefly (Rhagio scolopaceus), a fascinating predatory fly widespread across Europe. It earns its poetic common name from a highly distinctive behavioral quirk: it perches head-down on tree trunks and fence posts, constantly scanning the forest floor for passing prey. Sporting an orangey-brown body, long, slender legs, and large, dark spots on its wings, this active aerial hunter spots small insects, snatches them mid-air, and carries them back to its post to consume. Meanwhile, its subterranean, worm-like larvae dwell in soil and leaf litter, hunting earthworms and beetle grubs. While walking through a Swedish forest under the intense summer sun, I spotted a strong flyer land on a nearby trunk. Blindsided by the harsh glare, I couldn’t clearly see my subject but managed to fire off a series of photos from various angles. Initially, its bulging eyes and predatory stance convinced me I had found a robber fly. It was only later that I discovered the snipefly family (Rhagionidae)—fascinating look-alikes easily distinguished by their unique downward posture and distinct ambush tactics.