2025 Photography Competition Winners – Under 18 years

Tyrant of the Dunes

Antlion Larvae – Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae (Synclisis baetica)

Benji Cook, age 12

 

Antlion larvae (Synclisis baetica) dig craters in the sand and lie in wait at the bottom of the pit, perfectly camouflaged, ready to ambush their unsuspecting prey. When an unlucky ant falls in, they spring into action with lightning speed, seizing their prey with ferocious jaws.

Photographer notes: “My sister unearthed this strange looking creature when she was building sandcastles on holiday. She called me over and we watched with curiosity as it vibrated its abdomen and retreated backwards into the sand, leaving just its head protruding, fearsome jaws outstretched.”

Photo location: France

• Lacewings, antlions and mantidflies

Flower bee

Four-banded flower bee – Hymenoptera: Apidae (Anthophora quadrimaculata)

Jack Brackley, age 13

 

A bee flying above flowers at Lackford Lakes in Suffolk.

Photographer notes: “I visited Lackford Lakes, a Suffolk nature reserve, with my family and spotted an unusual-looking bee darting between flowers and feeding on them. I wanted to capture one in flight using my macro lens, which proved very challenging! I was really pleased to capture one in focus.”

Photo location: United Kingdom

• Ants, bees, wasps and sawflies

Hanging By A Blade

False Firefly beetle – Coleoptera: Elateridae (Drilus flavescens)

Jamie Smart, age 10

 

A photo of a male and female Drilus flavescens (False Firefly beetle) mating hanging from a blade of grass.

Photographer notes: “I captured this image in a car park believe it or not! I was in Hampshire for a few days and I took my macro set-up with me whilst aiming to go for a walk. Needless to say I didn’t get very far after finding so many bugs around the car park area!”

Photo location: United Kingdom

• Beetles

Summer Cicada

Cicada – Hemiptera: Cicadidae (Macrotristria sp.)

Jamie Smart, age 10

 

A Cicada clinging to a tree branch.

Photographer notes: “I was in Atherton Tablelands on a hike on a scorching hot day when I found these huge cicadas flying around my head and landing high up in the trees around me. I managed to capture this one just before it flew away!”

Photo location: Australia

• True bugs

Hidden Royalty

Common Wasp Queens – Hymenoptera: Vespidae (Vespula vulgaris)

Benji Cook, age 12

 

Common Wasps (Vespula vulgaris) lying hidden in a narrow crevice beneath the bark of a fallen log, beads of dew glistening on their still bodies. I suspect these are future queens, quietly waiting out the cold winter months before emerging to build new nests in the spring.

Photographer notes: “Whilst exploring my local woods, I gently lifted a strip of loose bark from a fallen log to take a closer look at the intricate woodworm patterns that etched its surface. I was amazed to discover these three sleeping beauties in a crevice of the log, concealed beneath the bark.”

Photo location: United Kingdom

• Ants, bees, wasps and sawflies

Paper Planes

Australian Potter and Paper wasps – Hymenoptera: Vespidae (Delta campaniforme + Polistes sp.)

Jamie Smart, age 10

 

Photographer notes: “It was a scorching hot day and we’d gone out for a walk to see the Rock Wallabies in the Atherton Tablelands. I spotted these wasps flying and fitting around and was mesmerised by them, so I decided to try to capture some of their behaviour in a photograph.”

Photo location: Australia

• Ants, bees, wasps and sawflies

Eyes of a Thousand Jewels

Splayed Deer fly – Diptera: Tabanidae (Chrysops caecutiens)

Benji Cook, age 12

 

A Splayed Deer fly (Chrysops caecutiens) perched on a branch covered with lichen. The eyes of this insect are truly incredible – a mesmerising mosaic of emerald, sapphire and gold, punctuated with darker patches that seem to dance across the surface of the eye.

Photographer notes: “I’ve wanted to photograph a deer fly’s stunning eyes ever since I started shooting macro, but they’re usually too skittish. One chilly morning whilst on holiday in France, I got lucky and found this blood-sucking beauty resting on a branch, calm enough for a close-up.”

Photo location: France

• True flies