11 Pictures That Will Change How You See Bugs
Updated: Feb. 01, 2024
Never think of bugs as creepy or crawly again! These pictures of bugs show how amazing (and beautiful) these creatures really are.
Damselfly in the Grass
“On a beautiful summer evening in Paynesville, Minnesota, as I walked along a country road just enjoying the tall weeds, this damselfly gave me time to take pictures of bugs—such a joy! I love the shot because I’m starring eye to eye with the tiniest of creatures in the grass that most people don’t even notice are there,” says Bernie Stang.
Ladybug Gathering
“I call this the ladybug gathering. One summer, we had a huge number of ladybugs on our deck and flowers. I had to walk carefully as not to step on any of them. They are good for our gardens. What else can I say, we love those little bugs,” Carol Milisen.
Stunning Spider
“I planted morning glory flowers on the side of my house. One bloom this summer caught my eye because of the little white crab spider on it. I noticed that the white stamen on the flower matched the color of the spider, making them both stand out against the bright purple background,” says Joan Hunt.
Pink Praying Mantis
“One evening as I weeded my zinnia bed, I looked up and saw a praying mantis watching me. The sunset colors and the pink of the zinnia reflected onto the praying mantis making him appear to be pink! Zinnias attract so many interesting and beautiful pollinators as well as predators!” says Mary Lou Jubin.
Lovely Lightning Bug
“Pictures of bugs can be beautiful!” says Brittany Kershner. “This firefly landed in the center of a pink cosmos flower and illuminated it with a soft glow, as its petals began to furl for the evening.”
Sunflower and Friend
“I was cycling in Brooker Creek Headwaters Nature Preserve, in Hillsborough County, Florida, in early summer. In a stand of weeds alongside the trail, I saw a single small sunflower. I assumed a bird had likely dropped a seed from a neighborhood bird feeder. The flower stood out, so I reasoned it would be a good photo. Perched on the bloom was a green lynx spider. The beautiful lime green color of the spider contrasts perfectly with the bloom’s bright yellow coloring,” says Gail Diederich.
A Teeny Tiny Bee
“My photo club members and I made a trip to the Green Bay Botanical Garden to take photos of the flowers and the new butterfly exhibit. I wasn’t expecting to take pictures of bugs. The delicate coloring of this particular rose really caught my attention. After shooting, I looked at discovered that a sweat bee (halictid bee) came and landed on the middle of the rose. This little bee has a delicate body and wings, just like the rose petals,” says Laurie Painter.
Dragonfly on the Water
“I saw this blue dasher dragonfly on a waterlily at Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens in Akron, Ohio,” says Marina Neyman.
Gorgeous Grasshopper
“I like to photograph a lot of animals, including birds, and I also take pictures of bugs. This particular grasshopper was quite cooperative and I really liked the way this photo came out. It’s one of my favorites!” says Margaret Sperling.
Happy Hoverfly
“I was taking this picture of my first sunflower of the season. It was a very sunny day and hard to see, so I didn’t see the hoverfly until I downloaded the images. I love this picture for the detail in the sunflower and the hoverfly enjoying it,” says Anita Stornio.
Fancy Fall Pollinator
“Coming to the end of summer, the sedum is in full bloom and all kinds of pollinators are vying for a place on the flowers. But this four-toothed mason wasp really stands out with the sun gleaming off its wings, causing them to shine a brilliant inky blue. The white stripes on its black body make a striking contrast on the pink flowers,” says Denise Maynard.
