In 2009 the world's macrophotographers- both amateur and professional- continued to capture breathtaking images of the arthropod microscape. I've been bookmarking insect photos from around the web that catch my eye, and after spending some time this week reviewing the candidates I've selected nine favorites. Wow. These are the images from fellow photographers that most captured my imagination over the past year.
Last year's picks are here.
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...as judged by an utterly impartial panel of one here at Myrmecos Blog. These are photographs that caught my eye and my imagination over the past year. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.
Globular Springtail, by Brian Valentine
Horsefly, by Igor Siwanowicz
Angry Queen, by Piotr Naskrecki…
This year's winner of the BioScapes digital imaging competition, Igor Siwanowicz, triumphed with a somewhat unusual portrait. To most biologists, it should be clear what anatomical structures are shown here - but what species could this be?
Igor Siwanowicz, Max Planck Institute for Neurobiology,…
I just bought Cordarounds and am liking them very much, thank you. Their collection of gingham shorts fails to fully engage my enthusiasm, though they've got a seersucker short that tempts.
These cords should go nicely with my Tweed Ride outfit, first deployed last Thursday for an East Bay jaunt.…
Earlier I listed my pick of the best insect photos of the year taken by other photographers. Now it's my turn. In 2009, I snapped 8000 exposures to produce 805 processed, saleable images of live insects. Below are my favorites.
A parasitic Pseudacteon fly targets a fire ant in Argentina
Male…
that eucharitid is pretty badass
Thank you
These are absolutely fabulous! Thanks Alex for making these available to us on your blog. What about a "Top 10 of Alex Wild" for 2009?
Thanks Henry! I'm working on it- I'll have a selection of my own best up in a few days.
Have to agree with the aphidophobe, the eucharitid is pretty spectacular, especially considering the probable size. Looking forward to your own selection.
All great photos. Love the background on the first image, and the frog beetle capture is superb. Looks robotic, with the metallic sheen and wings unfurling.
Stunning - Thanks!!!
Just magnificent. Thank you!
Thanks for including me among all these excellent images, Alex. Impressive work!
Magnificent photos.
The 2 caterpillars, are they from the same species or are they distant cousins? Moth or butterfly?
It just blows my mind to think that nature has produced such beauty and marvel. It also brings up the question of why we find these things beautiful.
Fantastic pictures. thanks.
Your selection is just mind blowing. It's discovery without harming, detail without section, respect without intrusion.
"Discovery without harming" - Well put, Ulli.
The fine points of anatomy, including little tubercle on the caudal horn, and general pattern are the same, so even though not by any means expert in this family of insects, I feel fairly comfortable saying these are very likely the same species of "hornworm", or Sphingidae. They grow up into "hawk moths". There you go, three terms to google for more info.
Oops. I meant tubercles, plural.
Thank you sir, no need to google hawk moths.
Just wow!!! what a beautiful pictures as much insects might be beautiful.. XP..
How do you take photos of them? what is the techniqu?
Incredible, and some say we were put on this planet with a Big Bang, who created such beauty? God of course! :)
Very nice,
God is a wonderful architect.