The insect world just stole the spotlight—and honestly, it deserves it. The Royal Entomological Society has officially revealed the winners of its annual photography competition, and these images are straight-up next level. We’re talking extreme close-ups, wild behavior, and moments so tiny they usually slip past the human eye. This isn’t “bugs on leaves” energy. This is full-blown visual storytelling from the micro universe.
Leading the pack in the 18-and-over category is Raghuram Annadana with his jaw-dropping image Parasitic Play, captured in India. At first glance, it’s beautiful. Look closer, and it gets intense. The photo freezes a parasitic wasp in the act of laying its eggs inside the eggs of a Banana Skipper butterfly. Nature doesn’t do drama halfway—and this frame proves it.
Annadana spotted the butterfly eggs during a casual macro walk on a banana leaf. Through the lens, the scene flipped from calm to cinematic. Each butterfly egg measures just 1.8mm, and the wasp is even smaller. Let that sink in. This is the kind of shot that makes you respect patience, timing, and a photographer’s obsession with detail.
The 2025 competition smashed records, pulling in over 3,000 entries from more than 110 countries—the biggest response in the Society’s history. Run by the UK’s leading insect science charity, the contest celebrates the rising global community of amateur insect photographers who are blending science with serious visual flair.
These 30 winning photos don’t just show insects—they expose hidden lives, silent battles, and fragile ecosystems. It’s proof that when you slow down and look closer, the smallest creatures often tell the biggest stories.
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#1. 1st Place: "Banana skipper (Erionota thrax) eggs being parasitized by a wasp (Agiommatus sp)" by Raghuram Annadana
#2. 2nd Place: "Nature’s Drama" by Dara Ojo
#3. Highly Commended – Behaviour: "El baile efímero de la efímera" by Julián Fernandez Quilez
#4. Highly Commended – Behaviour: "Pile of Trash" by Raghuram Annadana
#5. Highly Commended – Behaviour: "Wasp larvae on their host caterpillar" by Wayne Sayers
#6. Highly Commended – Behaviour: "Chalcidoid Wasp Parasitising Cynipid Wasp Gall" by Rupert Lees
#7. Highly Commended – Portraits: "Tafano" by Alessio Cipollini
#8. Highly Commended – Portraits: "A mating pair of blue longhorn beetles" by Alexis Tinker-Tsavalas
#9. Highly Commended – Portraits: "Ruby tailed wasp (Chrysis ignita)"by Lee Frost
#10. Highly Commended – Portraits: "Horsehead grasshopper" by Jeremiah Winden
#11. Highly Commended – Portraits: "Buffalo Treehopper" by Jeremiah Winden
#12. Highly Commended – Portraits: "Environmental Defender Chironomid" by Jifeng Yu
#13. Highly Commended – Portraits: "Mayfly (Ephemera danica)" by Jacek Hensoldt
#14. Highly Commended – Portraits: "Who you lookin’ at?" by Rupert Lees
#15. Highly Commended – Environment: "Angel in disguise" by Panagiotis Dalagiorgos
#16. Highly Commended – Environment: "Dance of the psyche" by Swastika Mukherjee
#17. Highly Commended – Environment: "Oil painting in the Stream" by Bo Lei
#18. Highly Commended – Environment: "The froghopper in foam" by Jianguo Mao
#19. Highly Commended – Environment: "Termite nest with colorful Termitomyces fungi" by Madhumay Mallik
#20. Highly Commended – Environment: "The Butterfly in the Morning" by Yong Miao
#21. Highly Commended – Smart Device: "Ascension of the Mantis" by Steven Grogin
#22. Highly Commended – Smart Device: "Crimson Explorer" by Parakrama Keerthisinghe
#23. Highly Commended – Smart Device: "Mayan Euglossa" by Luis Raúl Martínez García
#24. Under 18 Winner – 1st Place: "Tyrant of the Dunes" by Benji Cook (12 Years)
#25. Under 18 Winner – 2nd Place: "Flower bee" by Jack Brackley (13 Years)
#26. Under 18 Winner – Highly Commended: "Hanging By A Blade" by Jamie Smart (10 Years)
#27. Under 18 Winner – Highly Commended: "Summer Cicada" by Jamie Smart (10 Years)
#28. Under 18 Winner – Highly Commended: "Eyes of a Thousand Jewels" by Benji Cook (12 Years)
#29. Under 18 Winner – Highly Commended: "Hidden Royalty" by Benji Cook (12 Years)
#30. Under 18 Winner – Highly Commended: "Paper Planes" by Jamie Smart (10 Years)
In Summary
What is the Royal Entomological Society Photography Competition?
An annual global contest celebrating insect photography, run by the UK’s leading insect science charity.
Who won the overall 18+ category in 2025?
Raghuram Annadana won for his photo Parasitic Play, captured in India.
What makes the winning photo special?
It shows a parasitic wasp laying eggs inside butterfly eggs—each less than 2mm wide.
How many entries were submitted in 2025?
Over 3,000 photos from photographers in more than 110 countries.
Why is this competition important?
It highlights insect biodiversity, macro photography skills, and growing public interest in nature.
