2025 Photomicrography Competition

2025's first-place prize was awarded to China’s Zhang You for his striking image of a rice weevil mounted on a grain of rice. The image captures the insect with its wings fully extended, frozen in a moment that provides insight into the structure and behavior of a familiar yet often overlooked agricultural pest.

A member of the Entomological Society of China and the Entomological Society of Yunnan Province, You’s winning work is a product of the years he has spent focused on ecological and insect science photography, as well as teaching others about entomology. “It pays to dive deep into entomology: understanding insects’ behaviors and mastering lighting,” You said. “A standout work blends artistry with scientific rigor, capturing the very essence, energy, and spirit of these creatures.”

The choice of scale in the image emphasizes the insect’s actual size while contextualizing its ecological role as a pest known for attacking seeds of several crops. Using a medium-format camera paired with a 5X microscope objective, You captured over 100 images for focus stacking, carefully cleaning, lighting, and post-processing the specimen over the course of two weeks.

The subject itself was a rare and fortunate find. “I had observed rice weevils in grains before, but never one with its wings spread,” You explained. “This one was naturally preserved on a windowsill, perhaps in a final attempt to escape. Its tiny size makes manually preparing spread-wing specimens extremely difficult, so encountering it was both serendipitous and inspiring.” Insects, from pollinators to pests, play vital roles in ecosystems and economies alike, and You’s work encourages audiences to recognize the complexity hidden among these communities.