A Butterfly’s Drama
A camouflaged jumping spider attacks a wounded blue butterfly.
Photo by Aymen Ibrahem, Senior Astronomy Specialist

On 9 June 2007, BA Senior Astronomy Specialist Aymen Ibrahem was exercising his favorite hobby of wildlife photography in a park in Cairo. He recorded in interesting pictures the drama of a blue butterfly that was attacked by a jumping spider.

“While I was observing butterflies of several species, I noted a fierce aerial combat between two competing blue butterflies of the species Lang’s short-tailed blue,” said Ibrahem. “The fight ended soon, as one butterfly was severely wounded and fell to the ground. Its right forewing was damaged. A camouflaged jumping spider immediately attacked the butterfly, and killed it.”

Interestingly, Ibrahem took numerous images, showing the small spider carrying easily its far larger, but lightweight prey. The spider was able to climb a fallen leaf while carrying the butterfly. Ibrahem named his series of images “A Butterfly’s Drama”. Some of his pictures are presented in the picture gallery below.

Picture Gallery

Fig (1)
Predator grabs prey.
Photo by Aymen Ibrahem, Senior Astronomy Specialist

Fig (2)
Predator and Scavenger
The spider sucks the butterfly, and an ant approaches the dead butterfly to scavenge it.
Photo by Aymen Ibrahem, Senior Astronomy Specialist

Fig (3)
The spider climbs a leaf, while carrying its prey. An ant is approaching the leaf.
Photo by Aymen Ibrahem, Senior Astronomy Specialist

Fig (4) 
This image shows the spider tightly grasping the butterfly. An ant is chasing the spider to have its share of the prey.
Photo by Aymen Ibrahem, Senior Astronomy Specialist

Further Reading

Eight-legged Phantoms
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A Close Encounter with a Two-faced Predator
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A Ferocious Insectivore
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Season’s Greetings
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Aymen Mohamed Ibrahem
Senior Astronomy Specialist