![Luke Chambers Two cuckoo bees resting on a blade of grass](https://i0.wp.com/ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/bc57/live/300e5a80-320f-11ef-a044-9d4367d5b599.jpg.webp?w=696&ssl=1)
Sleeping cuckoos, by Yorkshire-based Luke Chambers, has won this year’s Royal Entomological Society Insect Week photography competition.
Chambers’ photo shows two cuckoo bees resting on a blade of grass.
“Finding any sleeping invertebrate is always brilliant – but two so close together, well that’s like winning the photography lottery,” he said.
![Tim Jonas Caddisfly larvae](https://i0.wp.com/ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/b5b0/live/bdb8b8c0-3210-11ef-90be-b75b34b0bbb2.jpg.webp?w=696&ssl=1)
Tim Jonas’s picture of caddis-fly larvae came second.
Head judge, broadcaster, photographer and Falmouth University senior lecturer Dr Tim Cockerill said: “Insects are the most diverse group of animals on the planet yet we know so little about most of them.
“Photography like this provides a window into the astonishing complexity and beauty of the insect world.
“At a time when insects face huge threats, I hope this collection of stunning images helps to showcase just how important – and beautiful – they really are.”
![Gustav Parenmark Banded demoiselle damselfly](https://i0.wp.com/ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/6c25/live/37832870-3211-11ef-a044-9d4367d5b599.jpg.webp?w=696&ssl=1)
Swedish photographer Gustav Parenmark, 17, won the under-18 category, with this picture of a banded demoiselle damselfly at rest.
“Waking up early is the key to photographing sleeping odonates,” he said.
“This species of damselfly is usually very skittish – but I went out at 04:00 to capture them inactive, making them easier to photograph.”
![Jamie Smart Robber fly](https://i0.wp.com/ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/d1b4/live/b2a8e590-3215-11ef-90be-b75b34b0bbb2.jpg.webp?w=696&ssl=1)
Jamie Smart’s picture of a robber fly came second.
“I was up early one morning and decided to have a wander around our wild garden with my camera, when I saw this fly on grass,” the eight-year-old said.
“I didn’t realise until looking on the computer that he was actually eating another fly.”
![Abi Batten A wasp in front of a tea cup](https://i0.wp.com/ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/72e2/live/091587d0-3216-11ef-a044-9d4367d5b599.jpg.webp?w=696&ssl=1)
Abi Batten gave her specially commended picture – taken using a smartphone – the title “A wasp joined us for tea”.
![Nikita Richardson A cluster of brightly coloured cotton harlequin bugs](https://i0.wp.com/ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/4770/live/d3c05a90-3217-11ef-a044-9d4367d5b599.jpg.webp?w=696&ssl=1)
Nikita Richardson’s Nature’s Jewels, of cotton harlequin bugs, was specially commended in the behaviour category.
![Thomas Roberts Orange-tip butterfly](https://i0.wp.com/ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/f4f7/live/6b3e65b0-3218-11ef-90be-b75b34b0bbb2.jpg.webp?w=696&ssl=1)
An Orange-tip butterfly, by Thomas Roberts, caught the judges’ attention in the environment category.
![Leela Channer Glanville Fritillary butterfly in cornflowers](https://i0.wp.com/ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/a82a/live/f9a344e0-321a-11ef-90be-b75b34b0bbb2.jpg.webp?w=696&ssl=1)
Leela Channer’s picture of a Glanville fritillary butterfly was also commended.
![Panagiotis Dalagiorgos European mantis](https://i0.wp.com/ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/711b/live/4edbd3f0-321b-11ef-a044-9d4367d5b599.jpg.webp?w=696&ssl=1)
Panagiotis Dalagiorgos’s photograph of a European mantis was commended in the portrait category.
![Robin Backhouse A picasso bug against a yellow background](https://i0.wp.com/ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/1d3b/live/b8d16090-321b-11ef-a044-9d4367d5b599.jpg.webp?w=696&ssl=1)
Robin Backhouse photographed this brightly coloured Picasso bug.
![Pete Burford A damselfly](https://i0.wp.com/ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/ea66/live/6de3f0f0-321d-11ef-a044-9d4367d5b599.jpg.webp?w=696&ssl=1)
Pete Burford’s picture is titled Look into my Eyes.
All photographs courtesy Royal Entomological Society.