20 otherworldly insect photos that will blow your mind
Delve into the alien-like world of insects with this incredible selection of winning images from the Royal Entomological Society’s Photography Competition.
The annual competition showcases the very best amateur insect photography.
This year’s overall winner is Yorkshire-based Luke Chambers for his image ‘Sleeping Cuckoos’, which shows two cuckoo bees taking a break on a blade of grass.
Sleeping cuckoos: Luke Chambers’ photo of two sleeping bees was the overall winner in the ‘over 18’ category. Credit: Luke Chambers
RES photo competition 2023 winners
Caddisfly Larvae In A Jelly Egg Sac by Tim Jonas
Over 18, second place
Photographed in-situ on a leaf overhanging water, this image shows recently hatched caddisfly larvae inside a transparent gelatinous egg sac. The larvae will drop into the water where they live as aquatic insects throughout.the larval and pupal stages. Credit: Tim Jonas
Natures Jewels by Nikita Richardson
Behaviour, specially commended
A cluster of male harlequin bugs. Credit: Nikita Richardson
Clever Girl by Luke Chambers
Behaviour, specially commended
Behaviour I hadn’t witnessed, seen, or read about online. A female European Beewolf (Philanthus triangulum) hastily squeezing the nectar out of a paralysed Honey Bee (Apis mellifera), and consuming it for herself. Credit: Luke Chambers
Fatal Attraction by Rosemary Haleem
Behaviour, specially commended
Swarm of flying ants desperate in a pool. Credit: Rosemary Haleem
Flying Termites by Sirsendu Gayen
Behaviour, specially commended
These flying termites, called alates, leave the safety of the colony in large numbers to breed and establish new colonies. This behaviour is called swarming. Swarming termites may be most active during morning, evening or mid-day. Only a few species tend to swarm at night. Credit: Sirsendu Gayen
Junk Bug by Rosa Dunbar
Behaviour, specially commended
The junk bug, a voracious predator in the insect world, earns its name by wearing plant matter and the exoskeletons of past victims on its back as part of an intricate camouflage to deceive predators. Credit: Rosa Dunbar
Conifer Wasp by Steven Mahy
Portraits, specially commended
A wasp found settled in a conifer tree. Credit: Steven Mahy
Fading In A Brown World by Panagiotis Dalagiorgos
Portraits, specially commended
An iris oratoria on a branch. Credit: Panagiotis Dalagiorgos
Les Fleurs Du Mal by Panagiotis Dalagiorgos
Portraits, specially commended
A mantis religiosa among some cyclamen. Credit: Panagiotis Dalagiorgos
Look Into My Eyes by Pete Burford
Portraits, specially commended
here is a Damselfly covered in Dew in the middle of the night. Insects are cold blooded, so as the temperature cools at night, they are unable to move. Dew then sticks to the Damselfly and covers it completely. Credit: Pete Burford
Neuropteran Embedded In Burmese Amber by Enrico Bonino
Portraits, specially commended
This incredible specimen belongs to the Neuropterans insect group. It is characterised by two spiny raptorial forelimbs (and big eyes. This insect is embedded in a approx. 99 million-year-old amber from the Hukawng Valley, Kackin State, Myanmar. Enrico Bonino
Picasso Bug by Robin Backhouse
Portraits, specially commended
This is a portrait of an aptly-named Picasso bug (Sphaerocoris annulus) from Ruiru in Kenya. Credit: Robin Backhouse
Portrait of Jumping Bristletail by Tim Jonas
Portraits, specially commended
Jumping bristletails are some of the most primitive insects alive today, pre-dating the dinosaurs by 200 million years. Often found under stones, these unique non-flying insects can jump several centimetres in the air and have a covering of scales that provide protection. Credit: Tim Jonas
Robber Fly by Steven Mahy
Portraits, specially commended
A robber fly found settled on long grass, Droxford, Hampshire. Credit: Steven Mahy
Spoonwing by Katarzyna Bukowska
Portraits, specially commended
Spoonwing is warming in the sun before it flies off. In the backdrop there is a kaleidoscope of colours created by meadow flowers. Credit: Katarzyna Bukowska
The Hornet by Pete Burford
Portraits, specially commended
A European hornet found resting from the rain in late October. They are more docile due to low temperatures which means you are able to get shots of them; I picked this one up onto a stick and took the shots that I need before leaving it back by the hornets’ nest. Credit: Pete Burford
A Forest Gem by Alexander McKerracher
Environment, specially commended
This photo features a beautiful wavy-lined emerald moth sitting on a mossy log. Taking a break from it’s adventures through the trees, this moth is displaying all of it’s beauty for use to appreciate. Credit: Alexander McKerracher
Tranquility by Gustav Parenmark
Under 18, first place
I was able to find many of these gorgeous banded demoiselle by a river near my home in Gävle, Sweden. With the help of the nearby blades of grass I could create foreground and background elements in order to create depth in the image. Credit: Gustav Parenmark
Robber Fly Breakfast by Jamie Smart
Under 18, second place
I was able to find many of these gorgeous banded demoiselle by a river near my home in Gävle, Sweden. With the help of the nearby blades of grass I could create foreground and background elements in order to create depth in the image. Credit: Jamie Smart
Taking a Break by Thomas Roberts
Environment, specially commended
I believe these two male orange-tip butterflies are merely resting on this lichen decorated branch. Whatever their reason for being there I was glad they felt secure enough to allow me to get this colourful image. Credit: Thomas Roberts
Sleeping Cuckoos by Luke Chambers
Over 18, first place
Two cuckoo bees (Epeolus variegatus) fast asleep, grasping onto the grass with their mandibles. Still with a few drops of morning dew on them. Credit: Luke Chambers
