The winners of the 2024 Royal Entomological Society Photography Competition have been announced and we've been blown away by the close-up images of amazing invertebrates.
The amateur photographers have used skill and creativity to showcase the diversity of insect life across the world in incredible new ways.
Competition judge Matt Doogue, commented: “While technology can often distance us from nature, these photographs highlight how it can also bring us closer. With affordable and accessible equipment, and even smartphones now capable of impressive macro photography, it's easier than ever to explore and marvel at the insect world.”
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The top prize, chosen from more than 1,000 entries from 44 countries, was awarded to Benjamin Salb for his highly detailed stacked image of a living gnat ogre. Rupert Lees won runner up for his image of a sycamore aphid that had been attacked by a parasitoid braconid wasp.
See the winning images below, plus our favourites from the Portraits, Behaviour, Environment and Under-18s categories.
Main image: Iron Man Tenderness by Ji Yuan. Highly Commended in Portraits category. The photo, taken in Malaysia, shows a bush cricket's (Lesina karnyi) gentle side.
RES Photography Competition 2024 – Overall winner
Ben said: “I love photographing gnat ogres because they're such a challenge. They’re ridiculously small and very flighty. This is my most successful attempt so far, and I am very pleased with how the detailed eyes came out.”
Runner up
Specially commended
Highly commended – Behaviour
Highly Commended – Portraits
Highly Commended – Environment
Under-18s winner
Alexis said: “While visiting family in Canada, one of my main target species was the jagged ambush bug. I found this one in an urban park in Montreal and was able to get a focus stack of it isolated against a black background.”
Under-18s runner up
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