Pair of Sleeping Bees Wins Insect Photography Contest
Real Hacker Staff
Two cuckoo bees asleep with their mandibles clinging onto the grass. Overall winner. | Luke Chambers
The Royal Entomological Society has announced the winners of its 2023 insect photography competition.
Announced during Insect Week (which runs 24-30 June), the annual competition, organized by the U.K.-based leading insect science charity, showcases the very best amateur insect photography.
It attracts entries from around the world from keen photographers of all ages, helping bring often-overlooked the miniature world of insects into sharp focus.
The overall winner in the “18 and over” category is Luke Chambers for his image Sleeping Cuckoos which depicts two cuckoo bees resting on a blade of grass.
“Something I didn’t expect to see when I visited a fairly new location to me, but one of my best encounters to date,” Chambers says of the winning image.
“Finding any sleeping invertebrate is always brilliant, but two so close together, well that’s like winning the photography lottery!”
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. Overall Runner-up. | Tim Jonas
Portrait Category
A mantis religiosa among some cyclamen. Specially Commended in the Portrait category. | Panagiotis DalagiorgosThis is a portrait of an aptly-named Picasso bug from Ruiru in Kenya. Specially Commended in the Portrait category. | Robin BackhouseA 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. Specially Commended in the Portrait category. | Pete BurfordA wasp found settled in a conifer tree. Specially Commended in the Portrait category. | Steven MahyThe sun is rising behind a Brown argus butterfly as it starts to awaken from roosting. Specially Commended in the Portrait category. | Richard Sheldrake
Environment Category
A praying mantis saluting the evening sun. Specially Commended in the Environment category. | Leela ChannerThis photo features a beautiful Wavy-lined Emerald Moth sitting on a mossy log. Specially Commended in the Environment category. | Alexander McKerracherA golden emperor moth rests on a perch after gliding in the summer night. Specially Commended in the Environment category. | Marco Chan
Behavior Category
A male and female Ferruginous Bee embrace in a post-mating cuddle. Specially Commended in the Behavior category. | Luke ChambersSwarm of flying ants desperate in a pool. Specially Commended in the Behavior category. | Rosemary HaleemA cluster of male harlequin bugs. Specially Commended in the Behavior category. | Nikita Richardson
The “Under 18” category overall winner is 17-year-old Swedish photographer Gustav Parenmark for his image Tranquility that shows a banded demoiselle damselfly at rest.
“Waking up early is the key to photographing sleeping odonates. This species of damselfly is usually very skittish, but I went out at 4 a.m. to capture them inactive, making them easier to photograph,” says Parenmark, who is a previous winner in the annual competition.
Under 18 Category
A demoiselle by a river in Sweden. Overall winner of the Under 18 category. | Gustav ParenmarkA fly is seen eating another fly. Runner up in the Under 18 category. | Jamie Smart
Smartphone Category
A wasp with a penchant for cream tea. Specially Commended in the Smartphone category. | Abi Batten
To see all of the winners, head to the Royal Entomological Society’s insect photo competition page.
