Insect Photo Competition

Aside Markozen.com Animals, Images

A photograph of a mating pair of golden-tabbed robber flies, entitled It Takes Two by Pete Burford from Shrewsbury, has been crowned overall winner of the Royal Entomological Society Insect Week competition.

Mating pair of golden-tabbed robber flies
Image caption,Pete Burford’s winning image of golden-tabbed robber flies.

The annual amateur competition attracted more than 700 entries from 34 countries, with a total of 24 images receiving commendations this year.

Mr Burford took up macro photography during lockdown and publishes his work on Instagram and TikTok.

Gustav Parenmark, 16, from Sweden, won the under-18 category with a picture of a blue-tailed damselfly, entitled Fresh Out Of The Shower.

A blue-tailed damselfly
Image caption,Gustav Parenmark won the under-18 award with his image.

“Each year this competition becomes more difficult to judge as the standard of amateur insect photography continues to improve,” said Tim Cockerill, head judge and senior lecturer at Falmouth University.

“Interest in insects, in all their fascinating glory, is increasing as we begin to better understand the role insects play in our lives, and the role humans must play in theirs.”

Marc Brouwer’s picture of a hummingbird hawk moth was awarded second place in the over-18 category.

Hummingbird hawk moth
Image caption,Marc Brouwer’s snap of a hummingbird hawk moth.

Organised by the Royal Entomological Society, Insect Week runs from 19 to 25 June and you can find out more details or enter the new photographic competition on their website.

This is a selection of the pictures that caught the judges’ eye.

Bumble bee
Image caption,Raymond J Cannon captured a common bumble bee in flight.
Orange Tip butterfly
Image caption,Sarah Perkins photographed an orange-tip butterfly backlit by the afternoon sun.
Low angle shot of a Saga hellenica
Image caption,This low angle shot of a saga hellenica bush cricket was taken by Panagiotis Dalagiorgos.
An ant lion
Image caption,Dennis Teichert said: “This beautiful ant lion was found late at night after a rain storm.”
Six-Spotted Tiger Beetle
Image caption,A six-spotted tiger beetle photographed by Benjamin Salb.
Aphaenogaster Iberica
Image caption,Ángel Plata photographed an Aphaenogaster iberica: “As the name suggests, this ant is native to the Iberian Peninsula, but also Morocco.”
New Zealand Praying Mantis
Image caption,Rosa Dunbar, 17, was awarded second place in the under-18 category for this picture of a New Zealand praying mantis.
An ant wrestles with its prey
Image caption,Gustav Parenmark, 16, entitled this picture Tug of War.

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