Pelochelys cantorii (Cantor’s giant soft-shelled turtle)

Matamata Turtle

Patagonian Cavy (Mara)

Saiga Antelope

Star nosed mole

Elephant shrew

Long-beaked echidna

Pink Fairy Armadillo

Long-eared Jerboa

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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. Take a look at this collection of awesome photographs and see whether or not you agree – but beware! This is not for the squeamish!

Look Out Behind You

“Thus that which is the most awful of evils, death, is nothing to us, since when we exist there is no death, and when there is death we do not exist.” – Epicurus

This Robber Fly is perhaps taking its name far too literally as it steals the life from an unsuspecting beetle. At this moment it is injecting its prey with saliva containing enzymes which paralyze the victim. The enzymes then dissolve the insides of the prey and the resulting mush can be sucked out through the proboscis.

Rebirth?

“For death begins with life’s first breath And life begins at touch of death” – John Oxenham

Out of every evil, it is said, some great good must come. Well, for good, read food in this case. This fly’s death was not in vain – the next generation finds him a tasty nursery snack on its road to adulthood.

Lunch in Mid-Air

“I am ready to meet my Maker. Whether my Maker is prepared for the great ordeal of meeting me is another matter.” – Winston Churchill.

A spider wasp continues to tear in to its prey despite being on the wing. Previously it had attacked its prey and left it to die, returning for it later. Nature, of course, is oblivious to cruelty. Don’t feel sorry for the poor creature in the spider wasp’s jaws. There is plenty more where it came from!

A Cunning Disguise

“If my doctor told me I had only six minutes to live, I wouldn’t brood. I’d type a little faster.” – Isaac Asimov

Cunningly camouflaged as a flower, this spider grabs the opportunity to seize a butterfly just as it was anticipating a long relaxing lunch of nectar. It will proceed to eat every last bit of the butterfly, wings and all.
Death Among The Lavender

“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.” – Mahatma Gandhi

Death stalks a quiet English garden – it’s almost like something out of an Agatha Christie novel. Here a Garden Spider cocoons its wasp victim, to return later for a snack.

The Last Leap

“Dying is a very dull, dreary affair. And my advice to you is to have nothing whatever to do with it.” – W. Somerset Maugham

The circle of life, presented in all its gory glory. A frog is stripped to the bone by a host of young spiders, eager to gorge on its remains. So, one entity expires but leads to the sating of the hunger of so many others.

All You Can Eat Buffet

“As long as I have a want, I have a reason for living. Satisfaction is death.” – George Bernard Shaw

Greenfly and Ladybirds are one of those common sites in gardens and a lot of people believe the ladybird to be a vegetarian because of its attractive coloring and the fact it has been anthropomorphized in so many children’s books. However, the Ladybird is a voracious fan of the Greenfly – literally – and will devour as many as it can eat.

Camouflaged Capture

“The fear of death is the most unjustified of all fears, for there’s no risk of accident for someone who’s dead.” – Albert Einstein

The crab spider is almost the chameleon of the insect world and many different species can hide themselves, barely indistinguishable amongst certain plants. Here, a crab spider that has been laying patiently in wait gets its just reward in the form of a bee which, until the first and final lunge, had been blissfully unaware of its encroaching fate.

Death Before Living

“While I thought that I was learning how to live, I have been learning how to die.” – Leonardo DA Vinci

You have seen the film Alien, yes? Well, perhaps the Braconid Wasp was the inspiration for that particular nightmare of science fiction. Here we see the result of the wasp’s unwillingness to raise its own young. It has paralyzed the Hog Sphinx Moth caterpillar and its eggs were then laid inside the caterpillar. The cocoons are now pupating on the exterior of the poor thing. Before you ask, yes, it is still alive.

Kiss of the Spiderwoman?

“To die will be an awfully big adventure” – J.M. Barrie (Peter Pan)

When death comes, it is often in glorious Technicolor, even though the insect itself will not see it in quite the way we do. Woody Allen once maintained that he didn’t want to achieve immortality through his own work, but by not dying. Unfortunately, Mr. Allen, that will not be the case.

Vampire Touch

“Our life dreams the Utopia. Our death achieves the Ideal.” – Victor Hugo

Here a damselfly gives a vampire’s touch to an unwitting newly hatched member of its own species. It is amazing that, despite the subject of the photograph, the beauty of both insects shines through. Strange how death can be so gorgeous, isn’t it?

The First Rule of Fight Club

“You only live twice. Once when you are born and once when you look death in the face.” – Ian Fleming (You Only Live Twice)

A wasp and a blue bottle have a chance encounter. This particular spat could leave only one winner. The day of our death is, though, perhaps the birth of eternity. Who can say?

Death Gets a Visitor

“Death is a natural part of life. Rejoice for those around you who transform into the Force” – Yoda

This dead bee fly has been discovered by a much smaller scavenger, which will no doubt either lay its eggs in the carcass or eat it. Whatever happens, it won’t go to waste!

Dinner Is Served

“Death’s gang is bigger and tougher than anyone else’s. Always has been and always will be. Death’s the man.” – Michael Marshall

One dead creature can be the source of life for hundreds if not thousands of others, so does life go on in a way? The ancient Egyptians believed in the afterlife. They believed they would be asked two questions – and their answers would determine whether or not they would go on to the afterlife. “Did you bring joy?” was the first question. And the second? “Did you find joy?”

Do Not Interrupt My Lunch!

“Do not fear death so much, but rather the inadequate life.” – Bertol Brecht

Can insects look peeved? Perhaps the tendency to anthropomorphize is too great to resist, but this Orchid Praying Mantis is looking ever so slightly miffed at being photographed while it is about to enjoy its breakfast.

Lots of Bottle

“Fear not death, for the sooner we die the longer we shall be immortal.” – Benjamin Franklin

This robberfly savagely attacks its prey – in a few seconds the poor victim will be eviscerated. It is amazing how quickly a life can be extinguished but, unlike Homo sapiens, the insects that we have seen in this collection do it for survival, not for gluttony or sport. We cannot squirm at the sight of these creatures killing and dying without at least a little introspection. Or can we?
Watch What You Eat!

“If you should die before me, ask if you could bring a friend” – Stone Temple Pilots

Always be careful. After all, they do say you are what you eat!

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A new study finds there are more venomous fish than snakes. Here are a few of them, photographed by William Leo Smith of the American Museum of Natural History

Poisonous Soap Fish

Venomous Naso Surgeonfish

Venomous Orbicular Velvetfish

Venomous Pterois Lionfish

Venomous Pterois Lionfish

Venomous Toadfish

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The giant cat raced out of cover provided by scrub and bushes to surprise the crocodile, which was swimming nearby.

A terrible and bloody struggle ensued. Eventually, onlookers were amazed to see the leopard drag the crocodile from the water as the reptile fought back.

With the crocodile snapping its powerful jaws furiously, the two animals somersaulted and grappled. Despite the crocodile’s huge weight and strength, the leopard had the upper hand catching its prey by the throat.

Eventually the big cat was able to sit on top of the reptile and suffocate it.

In the past, there have been reports of crocodiles killing leopards, but this is believed to the first time that the reverse scenario has been observed.

Mr Brindley said: ‘I asked many rangers in South Africa if they had ever heard of anything like this and they all said no.

“It just doesn’t make sense. The meat you get out of a crocodile is just not worth the risk it takes a predator to acquire. The whole scene happened in the course of about 5 minutes. Then the leopard was gone.

“I drove away, elated in disbelief. It may have been the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen.”

Ellie Rose, a reptile keeper at London Zoo, said: “Normally, crocodiles are well able to defend themselves against attack. I can’t think of any examples of this happening before.”

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