The world's 20 most astonishing insect photos of 2024

The world's 20 most astonishing insect photos of 2024

Delve into the alien-like world of insects with this incredible selection of winning images from the Royal Entomological Society’s Photography Competition.

Published: July 5, 2024 at 10:37 am

The winning images from the Royal Entomological Society’s Photography Competition have been revealed.

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.

Royal Entomological Society Photography Competition 2023
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

Royal Entomological Society Photography Competition 2023
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

Royal Entomological Society Photography Competition 2023
A cluster of male harlequin bugs. Credit: Nikita Richardson

Clever Girl by Luke Chambers

Behaviour, specially commended

Royal Entomological Society Photography Competition 2023
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

Royal Entomological Society Photography Competition 2023
Swarm of flying ants desperate in a pool. Credit: Rosemary Haleem

Flying Termites by Sirsendu Gayen

Behaviour, specially commended

Royal Entomological Society Photography Competition 2023
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

Royal Entomological Society Photography Competition 2023
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

Royal Entomological Society Photography Competition 2023
A wasp found settled in a conifer tree. Credit: Steven Mahy

Fading In A Brown World by Panagiotis Dalagiorgos

Portraits, specially commended

Royal Entomological Society Photography Competition 2023
An iris oratoria on a branch. Credit: Panagiotis Dalagiorgos

Les Fleurs Du Mal by Panagiotis Dalagiorgos

Portraits, specially commended

Royal Entomological Society Photography Competition 2023
A mantis religiosa among some cyclamen. Credit: Panagiotis Dalagiorgos

Look Into My Eyes by Pete Burford

Portraits, specially commended

Royal Entomological Society Photography Competition 2023
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

Royal Entomological Society Photography Competition 2023
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

Royal Entomological Society Photography Competition 2023
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

Royal Entomological Society Photography Competition 2023
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

Royal Entomological Society Photography Competition 2023
A robber fly found settled on long grass, Droxford, Hampshire. Credit: Steven Mahy

Spoonwing by Katarzyna Bukowska

Portraits, specially commended

Royal Entomological Society Photography Competition 2023
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

Royal Entomological Society Photography Competition 2023
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

Royal Entomological Society Photography Competition 2023
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

Royal Entomological Society Photography Competition 2023
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

Royal Entomological Society Photography Competition 2023
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

Royal Entomological Society Photography Competition 2023
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

The 2024 RES Photography Competition is now open.

More majestic photography

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