Macro Insects and Flowers

Detailed close-up images of insects like the bee orchid and ants with aphids, capturing intricate natural interactions.

Tanzanian Flower Mantis, or Spiny Flower Mantis (Pseudocreobotra wahlbergi) Native to Africa

Assets in this Story

Bee orchid

branch invested by pests moth

Carpenter ant (Camponotus sp) tending aphids for their honeydew on a flower bud of Spanish broom (Spartium junceum), Provence, France.

Tanzanian Flower Mantis, or Spiny Flower Mantis (Pseudocreobotra wahlbergi) Native to Africa

Snail in the summer garden

Grasshoppers on orange flowers

Brimston butterfly on closed hollyhock bloom

Bee orchid (Ophrys apivera), single flower, close-up of the flower, showing pollen-laden anthers ready to deposit the pollen on the back of the visiting bee, macro, nature photography, Mackenberg nature reserve, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, Europe

Brauner Schnellkaefer Athous subfuscus Brauner Schnellkäfer, Athous subfuscus Copyright: xZoonar.com/GerdxHerrmannx 15483148

Nomada (Nomada ruficornis) bifida, Split wasp bee, Split wasp bee, Cuckoo bee, Cuckoo bees, Bee, Bees, Other animals, Insects, Animals, Red-horned Nomad Bee adult, sleeping, with jaws locked onto stem, Leicestershire, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Ringelnatter ring snake Copyright: xZoonar.com/HendrikxFuchsx 3710457

A variable crab spider sits on a dry rain fern plant. A variable crab spider sits on a dry rain fern plant.

Larva of Mantis religiosa at stalk on an astéraceae France

Bee orchid (Ophrys apifera) (Orchis apifera) in flower

Lesser swallow prominent moth (Pheosia gnoma), adult, resting on the stem of ribwort plantain (Plantago lanceolata), Norfolk, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Macro insect Green weevil on leaf

Grosses Nachtpfauenauge, Wiener Nachtpfauenauge Saturnia pyri, L5-Raupe mit hellblauen Punktwarzen, Portraet, Deutschland Large Emperor Moth, Giant Peacock Moth, Great Peacock Moth, Giant Emperor Moth, Viennese Emperor Saturnia pyri, L5-caterpillar with light blue tubercules, portrait, Germany BLWS718220 Copyright: xblickwinkel/W.xWillnerx

Broad-leaved Helleborine (Epipactis helleborine) close-up of flowers, with Wood Ant (Formica lemani) adult worker, collecting nectar and pollinating flower, France, Europe

Bee orchid (Ophrys apifera), single flower, Biesberg nature reserve, Eifel, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, Europe

Praying mantis (Mantis religiosa) female cannibal eating a male on flowers, Lorraine, France

Broad-leaved helleborine or broad-leaved marsh orchid (Epipactis helleborine), flower, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, Europe

Dusky sombre bee-orchid (Ophrys fusca var. dyris) close-up of flower, Andalucia, Spain, Europe

Rose Chafer (Cetonia aurata) on an herb on the cob, spring, Moselle, France

Lynx spider just molted with old 'skin' (exoskeleton), on viguiera sunflower, Los Angeles, California,

Orchid mantis close-up, native to Southeast Asia.

Goldenrod Crab Spider (Misumena vatia) on Japanese Scabious flower (Scabiosa japonica 'Pink Diamonds'), Hesse, Germany, Europe

Newly emerged Peacock Butterfly with pupal case. (Inachis io)

snail on the grass in the forest

Portrait of European tree frog (Hyla arborea) resting on leaf

Macro spider on the leaf

Mantodea is on a green leaf.

Black hairstreak (Satyrium pruni) pupa, on blackthorn (Prunus spinosa), England, United Kingdom, Europe

Speckled Bush-cricket (Leptophytes punctatissima) first instar young, group on Rheinhold's Bee Orchid (Ophrys reinholdii) flower, Peloponesos, Southern Greece

Aphids and red ants

Fly orchid (Ophrys insectifera), sexual deception in plants, Switzerland, Europe

Raupe eines neotropischen Nachtfalters Xylophanes chiron Raupe eines neotropischen Nachtfalters Xylophanes chiron mit Augenflecken und Analhorn, Amazonas Regenwald, Choco forest, Ecuador / Caterpillar of the Hawk moth Xylophanes chironwith eyespots and a dorsal horn, Amazon rainforest, Choco forest, Ecuador Copyright: xZoonar.com/Mikex 10109328

Green stink bug or green shield bug (Palomena prasina), nymph on common horned clover (Lotus corniculatus), North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, Europe

Late spider-orchid (Ophrys holosericea), flower figure, mimicry, detail, nature photography, Gersheim, Bliesgau, Saarland, Germany, Europe

Common Darter - immature (Sympetrum striolatum). Cornwall - UK.

Deilephila elpenor

Bee Orchid (Ophrys apifera) close-up of flower, Shropshire, England, June

Fly orchid (Ophrys insectifera), fully developed flower, Münsterland, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, Europe

Nursery-web Spider (Pisaura mirabilis) adult, feeding on Auspicious Burnet Moth (Zygaena fausta) prey, Causse de Gramat, Massif Central, Lot Region, France, Europe

Red poplar leaf beetle flying France

Tortoise beetle (Cassida nebulosa) on a leaf in a clearing, Auvergne, France

Rose Owl, Caterpillar

Orange Tip (Anthocharis cardamines) butterfly male on flower, Hoogeloon, Noord-Brabant, Netherlands

Close-up view of flies on leaf

Clown treefrog on inflorescence - French Guiana

Luna Moth - Newly emerged adult (Arctias luna). New York - USA. Family Saturnidae.

Butterfly sitting on green leaves beautiful insect in the nature habitat

Image of Pied Paddy Skimmer Dragonfly (Neurothemis Tullia) on green leaves. Insect Animal

Elephant Hawk-moth (Deilephila elpenor), North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, Europe

Macro spider on the plant

Giant Atlas Moth - wings closed on leaf (Attacus atlas). South East Asia. controlled conditions.

Bee orchid, Ophrys apifera, Bee orchid

Elephant hawk-moth (Deilephila elpenor) on vine, Tyrol, Austria, Europe

Late Spider-orchid (Ophrys holoserica), inflorescence, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany, Europe

Insects , Butterfly , Blue Mormon Series Papilio Polymnester-7

European tree frog (Hyla arborea) at rest on branch, Elbe Riverside Biosphere Reserve, Lower Saxony, Germany, Europe

Variable crab spider yellow spider with legs spread sitting on white flower right seeing against blue sky

Large Garden Snail in Summer crawling on hortensia flowers with water drops in the morning

Grosses Nachtpfauenauge, Wiener Nachtpfauenauge Saturnia pyri, L4-Raupe mit lilanen Punktwarzen und L5-Raupe mit hellblauen Punktwarzen, Deutschland Large Emperor Moth, Giant Peacock Moth, Great Peacock Moth, Giant Emperor Moth, Viennese Emperor Saturnia pyri, L4-caterpillar with purple tubercules and L5-caterpillar with light blue tubercules, Germany BLWS718223 Copyright: xblickwinkel/W.xWillnerx

Yellow damselfly sitting on a green leaf

Wheel Bug (Arilus Cristatus)

Veraenderliche Krabbenspinne, Veraenderliche Krabben-Spinne Misumena vatia, weisse Krabbenspinne mit erbeuteter Honigbiene in einer gelben Schwertlilienbluete, Deutschland, Nordrhein-Westfalen goldenrod crab spider, flower crab spider Misumena vatia, white crab spider with captured honey bee in a yellow iris flower, Germany, North Rhine-Westphalia BLWS712148 *** Modifiable Crab spider, Modifiable Crabs Spider Misumena vatia , Whites Crab spider with erbeuteter Honeybee in a yellow Iris flower, Germany, North Rhine Westphalia Goldenrod Crab spider, Flower Crab Spider Misumena vatia , White Crab Spider With captured Honey Bee in a Yellow Iris flower, Germany, North Rhine Westphalia BLWS712148 Copyright: xblickwinkel/E.xTeisterx

Listspinne Listspinne Copyright: xZoonar.com/VolkerxRauchx 16081591

Sulphur Beetle (Cteniopus sulphureus) adult, resting on Barbary Nut (Gynandriris sisyrinchium) flower, Sicily, Italy, april

Schlangenknoeterich, Schlangen-Knoeterich, Wiesenknoeterich, Wiesen-Knoeterich Polygonum bistorta, Bistorta officinalis, Bistorta major, Persicaria bistorta, Bluetenstand mit Scheinbockkaefern Oedemera nobilis, Oedemera spec., Deutschland, NRW Common bistort, Meadow bistort Polygonum bistorta, Bistorta officinalis, Bistorta major, Persicaria bistorta, inflorescence with false blister beetle Oedemera nobilis, Oedemera spec., Germany, North Rhine-Westphalia BLWS714226 *** Snake knotted fish, Snakes Knoeterich, Meadow knot, Meadows Knoeterich Polygonum bistorta, bistorta officinalis, bistorta major, Persicaria bistorta , Bluetenstand with Mock bucks Oedemera nobilis, Oedemera Spec , Germany, NRW Common bistort, Meadow Copyright: xblickwinkel/C.xStennerx

Praying Mantis (Mantis religiosa), Suedtirol, Italy, Europe

Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea), male feeding on Manchurian wild rice (Zizania latifolia), Port Aransas, Mustang Island, Coastal Bend, Texas Coast, USA, North America

Swallowtail (Papilio machaon) feeding on the stem of fennel in the garden, Canton Bern, Switzerland, Europe

Late Spider orchid (Ophrys fuciflora), orchid in bloom, Lorry-Mardigny, Lorraine, France

Common Sallow (Xanthia icteritia) adult, resting on Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) with berry, Leicestershire, England, august

Caddis Fly Larva In Case Made Of Shells & Vegetable Matter

Tomato Hornworm with Wasp Parasites

Tarantula hawk, Sonora Desert Museum, Tucson, Arizona. Tarantula hawk wasp preys on tarantulas

Leaf-Cutter Ant (atta), Adult carrying Leaf Segment to Anthill, Costa Rica, Central America

Gefräßige Raupen Gefräßige Raupen Copyright: xZoonar.com/lantapixx 1040969

Snake, Costa Rica, Central America

Nursery-web Spider (Pisaura mirabilis) carrying egg sac, England

Pupa of the Pale Owl or Giant Owl butterfly (Caligo memnon), native to South America, captive

Bee orchid (Ophrys apifera)

Two insects on blade of grass, close-up

Cantharis fusca on a meadow. soldier beetle (Cantharis fusca)

Bee orchid in bloom

Peacock butterfly, caterpillars on a stinging nettle, June, Eggstaett, Bavaria, Germany, Europe

Goldenrod crab spider (Misumena vatia) in lurking position on daisy flower, Hesse, Germany, Europe

Macro Beetle on plant

Polyphemus Moth, new Cocoon on Scarlet Oak (Antheraea polyphemus) NJ

Scarlet scarlet lily beetle (Lilioceris lilii), adult female, under the flowers of lily pink (Aphyllanthes monspeliensis), Montagne de la Clape, Aude, Languedoc-Roussillon, France, Europe

Gambian Epauletted Fruit Bat - hanging at a tree, Epomophorus gambianus

Tortoise beetle (Cassida azurea), in situ, Clermont-Ferrand, Auvergne, France

mantis

Cuckoo bee (Coelioxys sp) on flower, jardin des plantes in front of the Muséum national d'histoire naturelle, Paris, France

Spittlebug (Aphrophoridae), larval foam nest, Velbert, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, Europe

Large spiderwort, Riedenburg, Bavaria (Ophrys sphegodes), Germany, Europe

Large White (Pieris brassicae)

Green Grass Crab Spider on echinacea flower Closeup shot of Green Grass Crab Spider on echinacea flower Copyright: xZoonar.com/RomanxMilertx 21998112

White Plume Moth (Pterophorus pentadactyla), North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, Europe

A goldenrod crab spider (Misumena vatia) in lurking position on bearwort (Meum athamanticum)

Ant (Formicidae) pair protecting Aphids (Aphis sp) which in turn produce honeydew that ants eat, Bavaria, Germany

Molting grasshopper hanging on a leaf, Manu National Park, Peruvian Amazon, Peru, South America

Brimstone larvae Holmegaards Mose Denmark in July

Short-horned Chameleon (Calumma brevicorne), Andasibe National Park, Ost-Madagaskar, Madagascar, Africa

Fragrant tiger orchid several open yellow tabby flowers next to each other

Blue bottle flies-usually feeds on decayings or dead animals, roosting on a stick Blue bottle flies-usually feeds on decayings or dead animals, roosting on a stick Copyright: xZoonar.com/RealityImagesx 21157831

Pitcher Plant (Nepenthes sp) trap used to catch insects, native to southeast Asia

Aurora butterfly, (Anthocharis cardamines), animals, insects, butterfly, sideways, Lobau, Vienna, Lower Austria, Austria, Europe

Florfliege_Chrysopidae Florfliege, Chrysopidae Copyright: xZoonar.com/GerdxHerrmannx 13945877

Dorid Nudibranch; Indonesia

Cross spider in rye field

Detail from a purple flower of Drome Ophrys France

Sombre Bee Orchid or the Dark Bee Orchid (Ophrys fusca), Port d'Andratx, Majorca, Spain, Europe

Phrygana orchid (Ophrys phryganea), Inner Gallura, Tiempo, Sardinia, Italy, Europe

USA, Pennsylvania. Sphinx moth on daffodil.

Yellow Bee-orchid Gard France

Bird's-nest orchid (Bird's-nest orchid nidus-avis), close-up of flower, Hohenschwangau, Allgäu, Bavaria, Germany, Europe

Six-spot Burnet (Zygaena filipendulae), Den Helder, Noord-Holland, Netherlands

Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria) Butterfly

Yellow Slug, Garo Hills, Meghalaya, India

Caterpillar of the silver y (Autographa gamma), Valais, Switzerland, Europe

Atlasspinner, Atlas-Spinner, Atlasseidenspinner, Atlas-Seidenspinner Attacus atlas, Raupe auf einer Pflanze, Pfauenspinner aus Suedostasien atlas moth Attacus atlas, caterpillar on a plant, saturniid from South East Asia BLWS706747 *** Atlas spinner, Atlas Spinner, Atlas silkworm, Atlas Seidenspinner Attacus Atlas , Caterpillar at a Plant, peacock moth from South East Asia Atlas Moth Attacus Atlas , Caterpillar ON a plans, saturniid from South East Asia BLWS706747 Copyright: xblickwinkel/W.xWillnerx

Female Orange Sulphur (Colias eurytheme) perched on Aster adopts rejection posture as male Orange Sulphur flies overhead. Boone County, Missouri, 21 October 2007

Walking Stick, Maclaey's Spectre Stick Insect, Spiney Stick Insect, Giant Prickly Stick Insect (Extatosoma tiaratum)

Bumblebee foraging a flower of gentian (Gentiana lutea) . Auvergne Volcanoes Park. Puy de Dome. Auvergne Rhone Alpes. France

Rose Chafer (Cetonia aurata) on a raspberry on a black background, France

Hanging On-Western Tent Caterpillar

Madagascar Moon Moth (Argema mittrei) male on Jamun (Eugenia jambolana) leaves in the eastern highlands south of Antananarivo, Madagascar

Nest of wasps polist in the grass. Small view wasp polist Nest of wasps polist in the grass. Small view of wasp polist Copyright: xZoonar.com/LeonidxEremeychukx 14207636

Firebugs (Pyrrhocoris apterus), group feeding on hibiscus blooms, Germany, Europe

Early spider-orchid (Ophrys sphegodes)

Speckled bush-cricket (Leptophyes punctatissima) on flower, Drome, France

red frog with white spots perched on green leaves

Soft Jurinea (Jurinea mollis) flowers, Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) and Rose-chafer (Cetonia aurata), nr. Roades, Transylvania, Romania

insect

Pygmy seahorse (Hippocampus bargibanti), also known as Bargibant's pygmy seahorse; Philippines

Caterpillar larva of Burnet moth (Zygaena sp) on grass stem, County Clare, Ireland, June. meetyourneighbours.net project

Brown butterfly Butterfly chocolate. Beautiful insect. The butterfly sits Brown butterfly Butterfly chocolate. Beautiful insect. The butterfly sits and basks in the sun Copyright: xZoonar.com/xx 13668500

Seven-spot Ladybird (Coccinella septempunctata) adult, resting on seedhead, Berwickshire, Scottish Borders, Scotland, August

Bee Orchid (Ophrys apifera) flowering, growing in habitat, Italy, Europe

American boll worm on cotton flower (Heliothis Armigera) Tamil Nadu, South India, India, Asia

Elephant Hawk-moth (Deilephila elpenor) perched on a blossom, Schwaz, North Tirol, Austria, Europe

Greater Bee Fly (Bombylius major) feeding on a Cuckoo Flower or Lady's Smock (Cardamine pratensis), North Hesse, Hesse, Germany, Europe

Praying mantis

Bee orchid (Ophrys apifera), two flowers at the edge of a field hedge, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, Europe

Capricorn beetle long-horned, longicorn on moss

One Argiope bruennichi (wasp spider)sitting on a dry reddish plant

Orb-weaver Spider (Araneidae) spiderlings, Upper Bavaria, Germany

View into the flower of a wild carrot with animal inhabitants

Moroccan Orange Tip (Leptidea sinapis) waiting to warm up to take flight, Fouzon meadows, Loir et Cher, France

Fleur bat fading Taïlande

Katydid (Pseudophyllus hercules), Gunung Mulu National Park, Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia

Honey bee (Apis mellifera) on Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus), Schwaebisch Hall, Kochertal, Heilbronn-Franken, Hohenlohe, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany, Europe

Black black ophrys (Ophrys incubacea) close-up of flower, Corsica, France, Europe

Garden cross spider, Garden cross spider, european garden spiders (Araneus diadematus), Other animals, Spiders, arachnids, Animals, Wheel web spiders Orb spider babies, newly hatched in web on nettle, Kent, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Caterpillar, close-up

two snails on sheet to sedge

Oleander Hawkmoth (Daphnis nerii) adult pair, mating, hanging from twig, captive bred

Macro spider on the leaf

Lacewing (Chrysopa sp) flying

Grass frog (Rana dalmatina) tadpole developing in a pond, city of Couffy, Loir et Cher, France

Butterfly, eggs, Libelloides rhomboides ssp. cretensis, Owlfly, eggs

Grass snake, grass snakes (Natrix natrix), Other animals, Reptiles, Snakes, animals, Grass Snake adult, flicking tongue, in water amongst duckweed, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Eastern Golden Weaver (Ploceus subaureus), Zanzibar, Tanzania, Africa

Rose-chafer (Cetonia aurata) adult, feeding on blackberry, Genova Province, Liguria, Italy, Europe

Soldier beetle (Rhagonycha fulva) on a dew covered seed head, Leicestershire, England, UK, July. meetyourneighbours.net project

Caterpillar of the willow beauty (Peribatodes rhomboidaria), Valais, Switzerland, Europe

Siponto Ophrys (Ophrys sipontensis syn. O. sphegodes ssp. sipontensis) rare endemic species restricted to a limited area near Manfredonia and Monte St Angelo. Italy, April. Meetyourneighbours.net project

Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) metamorphosis sequence, Hoogeloon, Netherlands. Sequence 10 of 14

Oleander Hawk moth (Daphnis nerii) on isolated white background

Kaiser-i-Hind or Emperor of India Butterfly, Teinopalpus imperialis

Katydid (Moncheca sp), newly discovered species, Suriname

Tree shrike (Celastrus rosthornianus), Pruhonice Dendrological Garden, Pruhonice, Prague, Czech Republic, Europe

Foam nest of the brown pasture foam culinary Aphrophora Salicina foam nest of the brown pasture foam cicade Aphrophora Salicina. The larva is hidden in the foam and develops

Fly Orchid (Ophrys insectifera), two flowers, Mackenberg nature reserve, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, Europe

Black Rustic (Aporophyla nigra) adult, resting on Common Heather (Calluna vulgaris), Leicestershire, England, September

Parent bugs (Elasmucha grisea) (Cimex grisea) group of adults on leaf of alder tree in autumn, fall

Village Weaver (ploceus cucullatus), Working on Nest, Masai Mara Park in Kenya

Snakehead (Chelone obliqua), Merkel family, Germany

Apulian Ophrys (Ophrys fuciflora ssp. apulica /holoserica ssp apulica) in flower, near Monte St Angelo, Gargano. Italy, April. Meetyourneighbours.net project

Apulian Ophrys (Ophrys fuciflora ssp. apulica) in flower, near Peschici, Gargano, Italy, April. Meetyourneighbours.net project

Dock Bug (Coreus marginatus) 2 pairs on a rhubarb inflorescence in spring, Jardin de Campagne a Marbache, Lorraine, France

Orchid Mantis (Hymenopus coronatus) female mimicking a pink flower, Cameron highlands near Tapah in West Malaysia

Land Snail (Helicella sp) group gathers in estivation to delay desiccation, Peloponnese, Greece

5511-V111197514

Small White Butterfly - group taking minerals from mud (Pieris rapae). Bedfordshire UK.

Flower Crab Spider (Misumena vatia) on white flower, Devon, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Adult elf owl Micrathene whitneyi roosting in an abandonned woodpecker hole in a saguaro cactus, Sonoran Desert, Arizona, USA.

Bank vole (Clethrionomys glareolus) feeding on blackberries, Worcestershire, England, UK, August. Meetyourneighbours.net project

Ophrys orchid (Ophrys oxyrrynchos ssp calliantha) in flower in grassland near Ferla, Sicily, Italy, May.