Colin Varndell / Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus) foliage backlit on a spring afternoon, Dorset, UK. May.

Colin Varndell / Holly (Ilex aquifolium) in flower. Dorset, UK May 2018

Colin Varndell / Hare's tail grass (Lagurus ovatus) ripe flowerheads, Portland causeway, Dorset, UK. May.

Colin Varndell / English elm (Ulmus procera) foliage in spring, Dorset, UK. May.

Colin Varndell / Earthball (Lycoperdon echinatum) fungus, young fruiting body, New Forest, Hampshire, UK. October.

Colin Varndell / Common mouse-ear chickweed (Cerastium holosteoides) in flower, Dorset, UK. May.

Colin Varndell / Norway spruce (Picea abies) tree, new shoots, close up, Dorset, UK. May.

Charlie Hamilton-James / Zebras (Equus quagga) being corralled into a tunnel leading into the back of a trailer for transportation to release site, part of the first Zebra release and reintroduction into the national park, Go...

Clay Bolt / Digger bee (Anthophora sp) nectaring on wildflower. Ojo Caliente, New Mexico, USA.

Andy Sands / Silvery leafcutter bee (Megachile leachella), male, resting on empty snail shell among sand dunes. Cornwall, England, UK. July.

Andy Sands / Silvery leafcutter bee (Megachile leachella), female, resting and carrying cut leaf section. Cornwall, England, UK. July.

Andy Sands / Scorpion fly (Panorpa communis) resting on Bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) flowerhead. Hertfordshire, England, UK. May. Focus Stacked.

Andy Sands / Scarce fungus weevil (Platyrhinus resinosus), adult, on a Cramp ball fungus (Daldinia concentrica). Hertfordshire, England, UK. May. Focus Stacked.

Andy Sands / Scarce fungus weevil (Platyrhinus resinosus), newly emerged adult, on a Cramp ball fungus (Daldinia concentrica). Hertfordshire, England, UK. May. Focus Stacked.

Andy Sands / Scarce fungus weevil (Platyrhinus resinosus), adult, on a Cramp ball fungus (Daldinia concentrica). Hertfordshire, England, UK. May. Focus Stacked.

Andy Sands / Common red-legged robberfly (Dioctria rufipes) resting on grass stem. Hertfordshire, England, UK. May. Focus Stacked.

Andy Sands / Pair of Red mason bees (Osmia bicornis) mating on wallflower in garden. Hertfordshire, England, UK. May. Focus Stacked.

Andy Sands / Two Raspberry slime moulds (Tubifera ferruginosa) growing on very wet decaying Birch (Betula sp) log. Buckinghamshire, England, UK. November. Focus Stacked.

Andy Sands / Slime mould (Physarum sp.) sporangia growing on decaying leaf. Buckinghamshire, England, UK. December. Focus Stacked.

Andy Sands / Mature sporangia of Slime mould (Physarum album) with dew drops, starting to split open and releasing spores. Buckinghamshire, England, UK. November. Focus Stacked.

Andy Sands / Sporangia of Slime mould (Physarum album) split open and releasing spores. Hertfordshire, England, UK. December. Focus Stacked.

Andy Sands / Mature sporangia of Slime mould (Physarum album) growing on tiny nodules on rotten log. Buckinghamshire, England, UK. December. Focus Stacked.

Andy Sands / Mature sporangia of Slime mould (Physarum album) growing on tiny nodules on rotten log. Buckinghamshire, England, UK. December. Focus Stacked.

Andy Sands / Immature sporangia of Slime mould (Physarum album) growing from underside of old log with water drops. Buckinghamshire, England, UK. December. Focus Stacked.

Andy Sands / Common spiny-digger wasp (Oxybelus uniglumis), female, dragging paralysed fly impaled on its sting back to burrow. Cornwall, England, UK. July

Andy Sands / Orange tip butterfly (Anthocharis cardamines) roosting at dawn on Cuckooflower (Cardamine pratensis), one of its larval food plants. Hertfordshire, England., UK. May. Focus Stacked.

Andy Sands / Two Orange tip butterfly (Anthocharis cardamines) roosting at dawn on Cuckooflower (Cardamine pratensis), one of its larval food plants. Hertfordshire, England., UK. May. Focus Stacked.

Andy Sands / Green drake mayfly (Ephemera danica) roosting at dawn covered in dew. Hertfordshire, England, UK. June. Focus Stacked.

Andy Sands / Green drake mayfly (Ephemera danica) roosting at dawn covered in dew. Hertfordshire, England, UK. June. Focus Stacked.

Andy Sands / Marsh fritillary butterfly (Euphydryas aurinia), imago stage, hanging from chrysalis, drying its wings. Focus Stacked. Captive.

Andy Sands / Close up of Marsh fritillary butterfly (Euphydryas aurinia) chrysalis. Focus Stacked. Captive.

Andy Sands / Madagascan silk moth (Antherina suraka), freshly emerged adult. Focus Stacked. Captive.

Andy Sands / Two Slime mould (Lamproderma scintillans) sporangia, around one millimeter tall, forming on decaying leaf. Buckinghamshire, England, UK. February. Focus Stacked.

Andy Sands / Two Slime mould (Lamproderma scintillans) sporangia, around one millimeter tall, forming on decaying leaf, with peridium split open. Buckinghamshire, England, UK. February. Focus Stacked.

Andy Sands / Abstract close-up of butterfly wing scales.

Andy Sands / Multiple mature Slime mould (Lamproderma scintillans) sporangia, around one millimeter tall, forming along spike of Holly (Ilex sp) leaf. Buckinghamshire, England, UK. January. Focus Stacked.

Andy Sands / Multiple Slime mould (Lamproderma scintillans) sporangia, usually associated as snow melt species, forming on decaying Beech (Fagus sp) leaf. Buckinghamshire, England, UK. December. Focus Stacked.

Andy Sands / Multiple Slime mould (Lamproderma scintillans) sporangia, around one millimeter tall, with peridium split open revealing capillitium and spores. Buckinghamshire, England, UK. December. Focus Stacke...

Andy Sands / Multiple Slime mould (Lamproderma scintillans) sporangia, usually associated as snow melt species, forming on decaying Beech (Fagus sp) leaf. Buckinghamshire, England, UK. December. Focus Stacked.

Andy Sands / Multiple mature Slime mould (Lamproderma scintillans) sporangia, around one millimeter tall, forming on decaying Pine (Pinus sp) log. Buckinghamshire, England, UK. August. Focus Stacked.

Andy Sands / Multiple Slime mould (Lamproderma arcyrionema) sporangia, around one millimeter tall, beginning to mature and taking on metallic form. Buckinghamshire, England, UK. August. Focus Stacked.

Andy Sands / Three Slime mould (Lamproderma arcyrionema) sporangia, around one millimeter tall, beginning to mature and taking on metallic form. Buckinghamshire, England, UK. August. Focus Stacked.

Andy Sands / Two Slime mould (Lamproderma arcyrionema) sporangia, around one millimeter tall, beginning to mature and taking on metallic form, colour depend on growing conditions. Buckinghamshire, England, UK. A...

Andy Sands / Two Slime mould (Lamproderma arcyrionema) sporangia, around one millimeter tall, beginning to mature and taking on metallic form, colour depend on growing conditions. Buckinghamshire, England, UK. A...

Andy Sands / Two Slime mould (Lamproderma arcyrionema) sporangia, around one millimeter tall, beginning to mature and taking on metallic form, colour depend on growing conditions. Buckinghamshire, England, UK. A...

Andy Sands / Slime mould (Lamproderma arcyrionema) sporangium, around one millimeter tall, beginning to dry and forming peridium. Buckinghamshire, England, UK. August. Focus Stacked.

Andy Sands / Group of Stalked hairy fairy cup fungi (Lachnum Niveum) trapping water drops in tiny hairs on stems. Buckinghamshire, England, UK. December. Focus Stacked.

Andy Sands / Holly parachute mushroom (Marasmius hudsonii) growing on decaying Holly (Ilex sp) leaves, covered in tiny hairs. Buckinghamshire, England, UK. January. Focus Stacked.

Andy Sands / Holly parachute mushroom (Marasmius hudsonii), very young specimen, only two millimeters tall, growing on decaying Holly (Ilex sp) leaves, covered in tiny hairs. Buckinghamshire, England, UK. January...

Andy Sands / Holly parachute mushroom (Marasmius hudsonii) growing on decaying Holly (Ilex sp) leaves, covered in tiny hairs. Buckinghamshire, England, UK. January. Focus Stacked.

Andy Sands / Multiple Slime mould (Hemitrichia calyculata) sporangia after shower of rain, with capillitium exposed, releasing spores. Buckinghamshire, England, UK. May. Focus Stacked.

Andy Sands / Two Slime mould (Hemitrichia calyculata) sporangia after shower of rain, with capillitium exposed, releasing spores. Buckinghamshire, England, UK. May. Focus Stacked.

Andy Sands / Multiple Slime mould (Hemitrichia calyculata) sporangia after shower of rain, with capillitium exposed, releasing spores. Buckinghamshire, England, UK. May. Focus Stacked.

Andy Sands / Common malachite beetle (Malachius bipustulatus) roosting in very early morning covered in dew. Hertfordshire, England, UK. June. Focus Stacked.

Andy Sands / Common malachite beetle (Malachius bipustulatus) sitting on petals of Oxeye daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare). Buckinghamshire, England, UK. May. Focus Stacked.

Andy Sands / Pair of Flesh flies (Sarcophagidae sp.) mating where male is unusually large in comparison to female. Buckinghamshire, England, September. Focus Stacked.

Andy Sands / Fan-bristled robberfly (Dysmachus trigonus) in characteristic position sitting in wait for potential prey. Oxfordshire, England, UK. June. Focus Stacked.

Andy Sands / Jumping spider (Evarcha arcuata), female, waiting in curl of Oak (Quercus sp) leaf. Buckinghamshire, England. UK. September. Focus Stacked.

Andy Sands / Jumping spider (Evarcha arcuata), male, resting on leaf. Buckinghamshire, England. UK. August. Focus Stacked.

Andy Sands / Jumping spider (Evarcha arcuata), male, in alert pose, ready to jump. Buckinghamshire, England. UK. August. Focus Stacked.

Andy Sands / Jumping spider (Evarcha arcuata), female, waiting on curled Oak (Quercus sp) leaf. Buckinghamshire, England. UK. September. Focus Stacked.

Andy Sands / Small spotty-eyed dronefly (Eristalinus sepulchralis), with unusual very patterned eyes often associated with organic rich wet areas, resting on daisy (Bellis sp) flower. Oxfordshire, England, UK....

Andy Sands / Slime mould (Enerthenema papillatum), around one millimeter tall, in red stage, maturing and drying. Buckinghamshire, England, UK. December. Focus Stacked.

Andy Sands / Spectacular emperor moth (Saturnia pavonia) caterpillar having freshly moulted from previous instar, shed skin beside it. Hertfordshire, England, UK. May. Focus Stacked. Captive.

Andy Sands / Dune villa fly (Villa modesta), female, landing on bare sand, quivering tail to gather small sand grains in cloaca later enabling them to disperse their eggs better from flight position. Cornwall,...

Andy Sands / Close up of Madagascan silk moth (Antherina suraka) eyespot on wing showing hair-like scales. Focus Stacked. Captive.

Andy Sands / Slime mould (Lycogala conicum) growing on upper surface of rotten logs. Buckinghamshire, England, UK. July. Focus Stacked.

Andy Sands / Multiple Slime mould (Lamproderma scintillans) sporangia, around one millimeter tall, forming along small twig. Buckinghamshire, England, UK. January. Focus Stacked.

Andy Sands / Multiple Slime mould (Lamproderma scintillans) sporangia, around one millimeter tall, forming along small twig, in different colour forms. Buckinghamshire, England, UK. January. Focus Stacked.

Andy Sands / Multiple Slime mould (Lamproderma scintillans) sporangia, around one millimeter tall, forming along edge of decaying leaf. Buckinghamshire, England, UK. January. Focus Stacked.

Andy Sands / Multiple Slime mould (Lamproderma scintillans) sporangia, around one millimeter tall, forming on decaying leaf. Buckinghamshire, England, UK. January. Focus Stacked.

Andy Sands / Three Slime mould (Lamproderma scintillans) sporangia, around one millimeter tall, forming on decaying leaf, in different colours and sizes. Buckinghamshire, England, UK. January. Focus Stacked.

Andy Sands / Slime mould (Lamproderma arcyrionema) plasmodium emerging from hole in rotting Pine (Pinus sp) log, beginning to form sporangia. Buckinghamshire, England, UK. August. Focus Stacked.

Andy Sands / Multiple Slime mould (Lamproderma arcyrionema) sporangia, around one millimeter tall, beginning to mature and taking on metallic form. Buckinghamshire, England, UK. August. Focus Stacked.

Andy Sands / Two Slime mould (Lamproderma arcyrionema) sporangia, around one millimeter tall, beginning to mature and taking on metallic form, colour depend on growing conditions. Buckinghamshire, England, UK. A...

Andy Sands / Two Slime mould (Lamproderma arcyrionema) sporangia, around one millimeter tall, beginning to mature and taking on metallic form, colour depend on growing conditions. Buckinghamshire, England, UK. A...

Andy Sands / Three immature Slime mould (Lamproderma arcyrionema) sporangia, around one millimeter tall, beginning to mature. Buckinghamshire, England, UK. August. Focus Stacked.

Andy Sands / Pair of Kite-tailed robberfly (Machimus atricapillus) mating on Marram grass (Ammophila sp) in sand dunes. Cornwall, England, UK. July.

Andy Sands / Green elf cup fungi (Chlorociboria aeruginascens) often staining decaying wood green. Hertfordshire, England, UK. August. Focus Stacked.

Andy Sands / Dune villa fly (Villa modesta), freshly emerged female, basking on bare sand. Cornwall, England, UK. July.

Andy Sands / Duke of Burgundy butterfly (Hamearis lucina) roosting on flower bud. Bedfordshire, England, UK. May. Focus Stacked.

Andy Sands / Duke of Burgundy butterfly (Hamearis lucina) resting on flower bud in dull weather with wings closed. Bedfordshire, England, UK. May. Focus Stacked.

Andy Sands / Duke of Burgundy butterfly (Hamearis lucina) resting on flowerhead of Cowslip (Primula veris), larval food plant, in dull weather with wings closed. Bedfordshire, England, UK. May. Focus Stacked.

Andy Sands / Duke of Burgundy butterfly (Hamearis lucina) crawling up to top of flower bud to bask in sun. Bedfordshire, England, UK. May. Focus Stacked.

Andy Sands / Three Slime mould (Didymium squamulosum) sporangia growing along spike of Holly (Ilex sp) leaf. Buckinghamshire, England, UK. January. Focus Stacked.

Andy Sands / Group of Slime mould (Didymium nigripes) sporangia growing of decaying Beech (Fagus sp) leaf with Springtails (Collembola sp). Buckinghamshire, England, UK. July. Focus Stacked.

Andy Sands / Group of Slime mould (Didymium nigripes) sporangia growing along edge of decaying Beech (Fagus sp) leaf. Buckinghamshire, England, UK. February. Focus Stacked.

Andy Sands / Dewdrop bonnet fungi (Hemimycena tortuosa) trapping water drops in hairs around caps and stems. Buckinghamshire, England, UK. November. Focus Stacked.

Andy Sands / Pantaloon bee (Dasypoda hirtipes), female, excavating nesting tunnel in loose sand. Oxfordshire, England. UK. July.

Andy Sands / Pantaloon bee (Dasypoda hirtipes), female, excavating nesting tunnel in loose sand. Oxfordshire, England. UK. July.

Andy Sands / Two Slime mould (Cribraria vulgaris) sporangia growing together on rotting log. Buckinghamshire, England, UK. July. Focus Stacked.

Andy Sands / Multiple Slime mould (Cribraria cancellata) sporangia with peridium still intact. Buckinghamshire, England, UK. September. Focus Stacked.

Andy Sands / Row of Slime mould (Cribraria aurantiaca) sporangia, in rare green form, starting to form on Beech (Fagus sp) leaf. Buckinghamshire, England, UK. July. Focus Stacked.

Andy Sands / Coral Slime mould (Ceratiomyxa porioides) growing on rotting log. Hertfordshire, England, UK. July. Focus Stacked.

Andy Sands / Coral Slime mould (Ceratiomyxa porioides) growing on rotting log. Hertfordshire, England, UK. July. Focus Stacked.

Andy Sands / Slime mould (Comatricha rubens) sporangia growing along edge of Holly (Ilex sp) leaf. Buckinghamshire, England, UK. January. Focus Stacked.