This enormous and important part of the animal kingdom may not be most people's favorite, but insects are a diverse, resilient and ancient bunch that date back almost 400 million years. But because of their size, many of us don't really get a chance to admire their beauty (yes, we said it) up close. So, during Insect Week 2024, the Royal Entomological Society has made it easier, presenting the winners and finalists of its annual photography competition.
Drawing entrants from across the globe, the competition celebrates the fascinating world of these miniature invertebrates and also showcases young budding bug photographers – with this year's under-18s winner, Jamie Smart, aged just eight. She's already been recognized for her work by the World Wildlife Trust and at the British Wildlife Photography Awards. “Insects may be small, but they have a huge impact on people and nature," said former Royal Entomological Society President Helen Roy.
"Insect science enriches our understanding and is fundamental to modern science." You can see this year's collection of outstanding images in our gallery, but here are some highlights. Luke Chambers from the UK took out top prize for his image of two black-thighed Cellophane-cuckoo bees ( having a snooze in the early morning sun, holding onto a piece of grass with their mandibles.
“Something I didn’t expect to see when I visited a fairly new location to me, but one of my best encounters to date," Chambers said. "Finding any sleeping i.
