23rd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Wildlife
Chasing

"Chasing" In November 2025, I carried a Canon R5 camera along with a macro lens. In the early morning, on a small path in the countryside of Beicheng Village, Qionghai, Hainan Province, China, I noticed a red string moving on the wild beanflower. At first glance, it seemed to be a very small damselfly, with its tail swaying but not flying. After a closer look, I found that the small damselfly's head was bitten by a small cat spider, making it unable to move. I quickly raised the camera to focus and, wow! I clearly saw the cat spider catching a beanfly several times its size. Pressing the shutter unexpectedly yielded a wonderful discovery.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 11.2025
Date Uploaded: 11.2025
Photo Location: China
Copyright: © YUEHUI XIONG