It is easy to be so dazzled by the beauty and the aerial skills of dragonflies that you forget that they are also fearsome predators. I had a stark reminder of this grim reality on Friday when I encountered a Cobra Clubtail dragonfly (Gomphurus vastus) that had captured a Hackberry Emperor butterfly (Asterocampa celtis) at Riverbend Park. The dragonfly was starting to consume the butterfly and in the photo below almost appears to be suspended in mid-air.
In the past I have observed dragonflies with small butterflies, but this was the first time to see one with a larger butterfly. I really like butterflies and so I felt a mixture of horror and fascination when I stumbled upon this scene. Life in the wild can be brutal and today’s predators can become tomorrow’s prey—a fellow photographer posted a photo yesterday of a bird that had captured a dragonfly.
All in all, this moment served as a sober reminder to me of the fragility of life and of beauty. Somehow it brings to mind a country music song that I really like by Tim McGraw, a song that recommends that you live like you were dying. If you have not familiar with the song or simply want to hear it again, check out the official music video here on YouTube.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
That’s a big meal, and sad to see (butterflies have it hard enough). But it is nature and a great capture.
Nice Mike! Goes to show they are predators. Never saw them get a butterfly but have seen them eating damsels or other dragonflies.
Thanks, Reed. If you want to see a situation when a dragonfly became the prey of a smaller predator, check out this posting from a couple of years ago when a jumping spider captured a dragonfly. https://michaelqpowell.com/2014/05/27/spider-captures-dragonfly-the-story/
Nice capture, Mike. Interesting that we don’t feel as bad when it’s a fly that is the prey, at least I’m not, as we record the cycle of life.
I guess that we emotionally are drawn more strongly to the gentle, delicate beauty of butterflies more than to other insects.
Your post today is a perfect example of the Circle of Life. We don’t always like it, but must accept it. “Nature needs no help, just no interference.” B. J. Palmer. At Benjamin’s young age, he already understands. Thank-you, Mr. Mike!
Thanks. It seems like Benjamin is amazingly mature for his age.
OH I like this picture, but don’t like it at the same time. Yes, it is the circle of life,but I still cringe like you. Good post though!
I also learned something new, I never realized that dragonflies ate butterflies.
Thanks. I realize that folks tend to get more emotionally attached to butterflies that to most insects, so I knew the image would disturb some. I think that mostly dragonflies eat smaller insects, but some will even eat other dragonflies.
I didn’t know that dragonflies are predators.
I read the post and Benjamin silently examined the enlarged photo for a minute. He then looked at me and solemnly said : “Poor butterfly, that dragonfly must have been very hungry. He is a nice dragonfly anyway.” Thank-you, Mr. Mike!!