Death in the domain of the insects can be swift and cruel but retains a magnificence and beauty that is somehow at odds with the brutality of what is happening.
Today rain had subsided a little. I wanted to photograph Psyche (Leptosia nina) butterfly which was flying around those tiny pinkish flowers which I couldn’t find any ID. As I shot 2 photos of the beautiful butterfly a female Small Zebra Jumper spider (Plexippus petersi) jumped on it and killed it. The whole process was so swift that I was too stunned to capture the instance of death.
Just to show you the beauty before death here is the Psyche seconds before death
Interesting shot, have not witnessed this kind of incidents so far.
Dear sir,
your photography and arrangement with lucid literature are very attractive. it is very helpful for common people, actually who want to love nature without any science background. it will help our society and nature to sustain with its beauty.
sir, i v one question, i want to know the sexual dimorphism of the psyche butterfly. how males can be distinguished from female in nature, without capturing or disturbing them. Because I couldn’t get any available literature on it.
As far Psyche is concerned both male & female are almost similar. Only difference we can see in female, the black markings on the upperside of the forewing on the whole slightly broader as compared to males. (From Bingham, C. T. (1907) The Fauna of British India, Including Ceylon and Burma. Butterflies. Vol 2). Since the upper side is visible only during the slow flight it has. So it is very difficult to make out.