When turning their lenses toward wildlife, nature photographers often thrill to , and the . But perhaps not as many look to the smaller, six-legged creatures that crawl, swim and fly—sometimes under cover of darkness—even though their numbers are legion and they inhabit nearly all parts of the globe. To put a spotlight on insects, the Royal Entomological Society, a United Kingdom-based charity dedicated to insect science, holds a photography contest each year.
In connection with its annual outreach event, the group recently announced the winners of its most-recent competition. “It’s wonderful to know that so many individuals have engaged with insects in this way, capturing some incredible moments for their world and showcasing the beauty and diversity of insects,” contest judge , entomology curator at the National Museum of Scotland, says in a . Amateur photographers from all over the world are invited to enter the contest, calling attention to the wonders of our planet’s insects at a time when roughly .
The Royal Entomological Society shared online of all the commended photos in this year’s competition, from both and photographers. Here’s a selection of ten stunning images recognized by the judges. Gripping onto grasses with their jaws—yet still fast asleep—two black-thighed cellophane-cuckoo bees are the peaceful subjects of the winning image for this year’s contest.
Named for the birds that , cuckoo bees also the nests of other bees. They pollen or ne.