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.
Together, by Jan Zajc
untitled, by Bonali Giuseppe
Frog beetle ready for take-off, by Alfred Preuss
Ants climbing tree, by Uros Kotnik
Water striders, by Clay Bolt
Eyes of a Holcocephala fusca Robber Fly, by Thomas Shahan
Eight-legged vaudeville, by Rick Lieder
untitled, by Igor Siwanowicz
Eucharitid wasp, by Rundstedt B. Rovillos
Last year’s picks are here.
Myrmecos Blog 
that eucharitid is pretty badass
[…] Alex Wild picks his favorite images of insects from the year. […]
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!!!
[…] of my favorite blogs struck a peculiar resonance today. Alex Wild has posted his favorite insect photos (plus a spider) of 2009. All of them are very good and some, such as Jan Zajc’s photo of mating damsel flies shown […]
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?
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.
[…] The best insect photos of 2009 In 2009 the world’s macrophotographers- both amateur and professional- continued to capture breathtaking images […] […]
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.
[…] 28, 2009 by myrmecos 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 […]
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! 🙂
[…] 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. Click here to check them out: […]
Very nice,
God is a wonderful architect.
those bugs are nasty
those bugs are the best photes in the world
Wow! Those are some of the best insect photos I have ever seen. Post some more please.
What are your dreams for me?