23rd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Wildlife
The Jumping Hunter
Oyster Pearl Fungi are favourite for Adult Female Gnats to lay its eggs. Once it matures the tiny white headed larvae feed on the soft fleshy gills. I was working on the Fungi photography when I spotted this jumping spider having some quick meal as the larvae has matured and coming out of the eggs. I took this shot when the spider was moving around and it was continuously roaming underneath the fungi to hunt.
Photo Detail
| Date Taken: | 09.2025 |
| Date Uploaded: | 12.2025 |
| Photo Location: | Pune, India |
| Camera: | Canon EOS R5m2 |
| Copyright: | © Indranil Basu Mallick |