Alan Murphy / Yellow-headed Blackbird (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus) male with insect prey, British Columbia, Canada

Laurent Geslin / Shining-faced drone fly / hover fly (Eristalis tenax) male feeding on garden flower, UK

Laurent Geslin / Shining-faced drone fly / hover fly (Eristalis tenax) male on garden flower, ox-eye daisy, UK

Laurent Geslin / Meadow Grasshopper (Chorthippus parallelus) in field habitat, UK

Laurent Geslin / Race horse (Equus caballus) with face mask to protect it from flies, France

Laurent Geslin / Common bluebottle {Calliphora vomitoria} on window pane, UK

Laurent Geslin / Common wasp (Vespula vulgaris) two workers flying to and feeding on apple, UK

Laurent Geslin / A swarm of midges (Chironomidae) flying in the morning. Walthamstow reservoir, London, UK

Paul D Stewart / Male Large Blue Butterfly (Maculinea eutryphon / arion) collected in 1865. It is here surrounded by other extant UK blue butterfly species. The large Blue was first recorded as a British species in 17...

Paul D Stewart / Copperplate engraving of a Stag Beetle (Lucanus cervus), with hand colouring possibly by Donovan himself. While most plates were thinly coloured to tint the interstices of the lines of the engraving b...

Paul Hobson / Azure Damselfly (Coenagrion puella) male grasping stem with eyes and head in sharp focus. Sheffield, UK, May. 'Animal Portraits' category, British Wildlife Photography Awards (BWPA) competition 2012.

Andy Sands / Common Wasp (Vespula vulgaris) drinking at water's surface from floating leaf. Captive, UK. 'Hidden Britain' category, British Wildlife Photography Awards (BWPA) competition 2012.

Andy Sands / Spotted Flycatcher (Muscicapa striata) perched with ringlet butterfly in bill. West Sussex, England, July. Highly commended, 'Animal Portraits' category, British Wildlife Photography Awards (BWPA) com...

Ross Hoddinott / 2020VISION / Common blue damselfly (Enallagma cyathigerum), close up portrait. Tamar Lake, Cornwall, UK, June. Highly commended, 'Hidden Britain' category, British Wildlife Photography Awards (BWPA) comp...

Chris Shields / Illustration of British bumblebees (Bombus sp): (Across rows) Adrena fulva,Bombus hypnorum,B. terrestris,B. lacornum,B. pratorum,B. lapidarus,B. ruderatus,B. humilis,B. muscorum,B. barbutellus,B. sylv...

Chris Shields / Illustration of British native ladybirds. From top left to right: Sixteen or 16-spot ladybird (Tytthaspis 16-punctata); Thirteen or 13-spot ladybird (Hippodamia 13-punctata); Bryony ladybird (Epilach...

Andy Sands / Ichneumon wasp (Rhyssa persuasoria) one of the largest British wasps, at rest on Dock leaf, UK, Captive

Ross Hoddinott / Marbled white butterfly {Melanargia galathea} backlit, Devon, UK. July

Andy Sands / Small Skipper (Thymelicus sylvestris) covered in dew, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Andy Sands / Common Blue (Polyommatus icarus) Male at rest wings closed, on flower, Captive

Andy Sands / Ringlet butterfly (Aphantopus hyperantus) roosting in early morning sun, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Andy Sands / Marbled White butterfly (Melanargia galathea) covered in dew at dawn, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Andy Sands / Peacock butterfly (Inachis io) on Fleabane flowers, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Andy Sands / Common house fly (Musca domestica) on cow dung, captive

Simon Colmer / Multicoloured / Asian / Harlequin Ladybird (Harmonia axyridis) feeding on ivy flowers, UK

Ross Hoddinott / Common darter dragonfly {Sympetrum striolatum} recently emerged from nymphal case, Cornwall, UK. June. Winner, British Seasons category, British Wildlife Photography Awards (BWPA) competition 2011

Andy Sands / Stag Beetle (Lucanus cervus) male on Oak branch with woodland ride, West Sussex, England. UK

Andy Sands / Stag Beetle (Lucanus cervus) two males fighting, West Sussex, England. UK

Ross Hoddinott / Common blue butterfly {Polyommatus icarus) Cornwall, UK. June

Ross Hoddinott / Large red damselfly {Pyrrhosoma nymphula} emerging from nymphal case. Cornwall, UK.

Adrian Davies / Azure damselfly {Coenagrion puella} nymph and pond weed, UK

Kim Taylor / Anglers / Green Drake Mayfly (Ephemera danica) males flying at sunset. digital composite, Surrey, UK

Kim Taylor / Cockchafer Beetle (Melolontha melolontha) male, portrait showing splayed antennae. Surrey, UK

Kim Taylor / Cardinal Beetle (Pyrochroa serraticornis) captive, UK

Kim Taylor / Hummingbird Hawkmoth (Macroglossum stellatarum) egg on underside of leaf of Hedge Bedstraw, Surrey, UK

Kim Taylor / European Hornet (Vespa crabro) head of queen showing eyes and ocelli. Surrey, UK

Kim Taylor / Green Woodpecker (Picus viridis) using its tongue to extract a beetle larva from hole in Birch trunk. Digital composite, Surrey, UK

Kim Taylor / Close up of eyes of Common Darter Dragonfly (Sympetrum striolatum) newly emerged adult, Surrey, UK

Kim Taylor / Green Tiger Beetle (Cicindela campestris) portrait showing jaws, Surrey, UK

Kim Taylor / Greater Bladderwort (Utricularia major) bladder with trapped mosquito larva, showing head still protruding from the mouth of the bladder. Surrey, UK

Kim Taylor / Whirligig Beetle (Gyrinus sp) on the surface of a pond. Surrey, UK

Kim Taylor / Large Red Damselfly (Pyrrhosoma nymphula) nymph. UK

Ross Hoddinott / Southern hawker dragonfly {Aeshna cyanea} Broxwater, Cornwall, UK

Ross Hoddinott / Large Red damselfly {Pyrrhosoma nymphula}, Tamar lakes, Cornwall. UK

Ross Hoddinott / Thick-legged flower beetle {Oedemera nobilis} on Corn marigold {Chrysanthemum segetum}, Cornwall. UK. Winner of Seasons category of the BWPA 2011 competition

Ross Hoddinott / Common blue butterfly {Polyommatus icarus} resting on plantain, Dorset. UK

Ross Hoddinott / Common blue butterfly {Polyommatus icarus} Dunsdon Nature Reserve (DWT), near Holsworthy, Devon. UK

Ross Hoddinott / Common blue butterfly {Polyommatus icarus} resting on bee orchid {Ophrys apifera}, Cornwall. UK

Ross Hoddinott / Common blue butterfly {Polyommatus icarus} Cornwall UK

Ross Hoddinott / Grizzled skipper butterfly {Pyrgus malvae}, Dorset. UK

Ross Hoddinott / Marsh fritillary {Euphydryas aurinia} butterfly resting on grass, Vealand fram {Devon Wildlife Trust nature reserve} near Holsworthy, Devon. UK

Ross Hoddinott / Marbled white butterfly {Melanargia galathea} underside, Dunsdon Devon Wildlife Trust reserve near Holsworthy, Devon. UK

Ross Hoddinott / Large red damselfly {Pyrrhosoma nymphula} emerging from nymphal case, Cornwall. UK

Ross Hoddinott / Large red damselfly {Pyrrhosoma nymphula} emerging from nymphal case, Cornwall. UK

Paul Hobson / Azure damselfly (Coenagrion puella) male, looking from behind flag iris, seeing eyes only, Peak District NP, UK

Andy Sands / Large Copper Butterfly (Lucaena dispar) Wings open with proboscis fully extended drinking moisture from leaf. UK. Captive.

Andy Sands / Large Copper Butterfly (Lucaena dispar) Wings closed on reed. UK. Captive.

Andy Sands / Orange Tip (Anthocaris cardamines) Male at rest on Cuckoo flower / Lady's smock, West Sussex, UK April

Andy Sands / Brimstone butterfly (Goneopteryx rhamni) Male at rest on Primrose flower, West Sussex, UK April

Andy Sands / Common Bee Fly (Bombylius major) at rest on bramble, Captive, UK April

Andy Sands / Common Bee Fly (Bombylius major) at rest on bramble, Captive, UK April

Martin Dohrn / Mosquito {Culex pipiens} emerging from pupa at water surface, UK

Martin Dohrn / Mosquito {Culex pipiens} emerging from pupa at water surface, UK

David Kjaer / Common Wasps on nest {Vespula vulgaris} Wiltshire, UK

Kim Taylor / Red ant {Myrmica rubra} worker collecting honeydew from Nettle aphids {Microlophium carnosum} Surrey, England.

Kim Taylor / Honey Bee {Apis mellifera} worker face portrait, Surrey, England.

Kim Taylor / Common blue damselfly {Enallagma cyathigerum} face portrait of male, showing compound eyes, Surrey, England.

Kim Taylor / Common Carder Bee {Bombus pascuorum} queen collecting nectar from Comfrey, Surrey, England.

Kim Taylor / Black-tipped Soldier Beetle {Rhagonycha fulva} taking off from Creeping Thistle {Cirsium arvense} Surrey, England.

Kim Taylor / Common Darter Dragonfly {Sympetrum striolatum} female, close-up of compound eyes, Surrey, England.

Jane Burton / Great Diving Beetle {Dytiscus marginalis} female taking air at water surface, Surrey, England.

Kim Taylor / Humming bird Hawkmoth {Macroglossum stellatarum} in flight feeding on Buddleia, Surrey, England.

Simon Colmer / Seven spot ladybird (Coccinella septempunctata) on Marguerite / Oxeye daisy, UK

Andy Sands / Small Elephant Hawkmoth {Deilephila porcellus} on Bleeding Heart flower, captive, UK.

Andy Sands / Brown Hairstreak {Thecla betulae} male basking with wings open, captive, UK.

Andy Sands / Brown Hairstreak {Thecla betulae} female basking with wings open, Captive, UK.

Andy Sands / Brown Hairstreak {Thecla betulae} sitting on Backthorn leaf with wings closed, Captive, UK.

Kim Taylor / Red banded leaf hopper (Graphocephala coccinea) jumping, double exposure. Captive, UK

Kim Taylor / Peacock butterfly (Inachis io) on Buddleia. UK

Kim Taylor / Golden-eyed Horse Fly (Chrysops quadratus), close-up of eyes. UK

Kim Taylor / Common wasp worker (Vespula vulgaris) feeding on syrup. UK

Ross Hoddinott / Marbled white butterfly (Melanargia galathea) backlit, Devon, UK

Ross Hoddinott / Marsh fritillary (Euphydryas aurinia) butterfly resting, wings back-lit. Devon, UK

Ross Hoddinott / Marsh fritillary (Euphydryas aurinia) butterfly resting. Devon, UK

Ross Hoddinott / Female emperor dragonfly (Anax imperator) laying eggs at the edge of a pond. Cornwall, UK.

Ross Hoddinott / Marsh fritillary (Euphydryas aurinia) butterfly resting. Devon, UK

Ross Hoddinott / Five-spot burnet moths {Zygaena trifolii} mating on Pyramidal orchid {Anacamptis pyramidalis} Cornwall, UK.

Ross Hoddinott / Marsh fritillary (Euphydryas aurinia) butterfly resting. Devon, UK

Ross Hoddinott / Female emperor dragonfly (Anax imperator) laying eggs at the edge of a pond. Cornwall, UK.

Adrian Davies / Male Brimstone butterfly {Gonepteryx rhamni) on March thistle UK, Europe

Paul Hobson / Silver washed fritillary {Argynnis paphia} chrysalis / pupa, UK.

Colin Varndell / Marsh fritillary butterfly {Euphydryas aurinia} on thistle. UK.

Colin Varndell / Small tortoiseshell butterfly {Aglais urticae} resting. UK.

Chris Packham / Marbled white butterfly {Melanargia galathea} camouflaged in rocks, UK.

Ross Hoddinott / Common darter dragonfly {Sympetrum striolatum} Cornwall, UK

Colin Varndell / Black-tailed skimmer dragonfly {Orthetrum cancellatum} female. UK.