Luke Chambers, a photographer from Yorkshire, has won the Royal Entomological Society Insect Week photography competition with his photo titled "Sleeping cuckoos." The image captures two cuckoo bees resting on a single blade of grass. Chambers expressed his excitement, saying, “Finding any sleeping invertebrate is always brilliant - but two so close together, well that's like winning the photography lottery."

Tim Jonas secured second place with his photo of caddis-fly larvae. The head judge, Dr. Tim Cockerill, a broadcaster, photographer, and senior lecturer at Falmouth University, highlighted the significance of such photography: “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.”

In the under-18 category, 17-year-old Swedish photographer Gustav Parenmark won with his picture of a banded demoiselle damselfly at rest. He shared his technique, stating, "Waking up early is the key to photographing sleeping odonates. 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, an eight-year-old photographer, took second place in the under-18 category with his photo of a robber fly. Reflecting on his experience, he said, "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. I didn't realize until looking on the computer that he was actually eating another fly."

Tim Jonas's picture of caddis-fly larvae came second.

Swedish photographer Gustav Parenmark, 17, won the under-18 category

Jamie Smart's picture of a robber fly came second.

Abi Batten gave her specially commended picture - taken using a smartphone - the title "A wasp joined us for tea".

Nikita Richardson's Nature's Jewels, of cotton harlequin bugs, was specially commended in the behaviour category

An Orange-tip butterfly, by Thomas Roberts, caught the judges' attention in the environment category

Leela Channer's picture of a Glanville fritillary butterfly was also commended.

Panagiotis Dalagiorgos's photograph of a European mantis was commended in the portrait category

Robin Backhouse photographed this brightly coloured Picasso bug

Pete Burford's picture is titled Look into my Eyes

All photographs courtesy Royal Entomological Society

-BBC