Insecta Collection

Dragonflies and damselflies from Collection of Drawings by Dutch Artists, 17th-19th centuries. Held in the Entomology Library at the Natural History Museum, London

Ornithoptera alexandrae, Queen Alexandras birdwing butterfly
A mounted specimen of Queen Alexandras birdwing butterfly from Papua New Guinea. Male specimen measuring 188 mm across wingtips. See 14964 for the female which is larger

Honey bees on a honeycomb
Honey bees (Apis mellifera) on a honeycomb. The chambers in a honeycomb are created using wax secreted by the bees

Entomology Specimens
A specimen tray from the Natural History Museums Entomology Department showing the diversity of insects in terms of shape, size and colours

Hummingbird Hawk-moth (Macroglossum stellatarum), feeding on flower using long proboscis

Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) on a plant, sunbathing

Sea green swallowtail butterfly
Sea green swallowtail (Papilio lorquinianus) butterfly. This butterfly is found in Indonesia, Sulawesi, Borneo, Java, Sumatra and in the Philippines

Chrysina limbata, silver chafer beetle
Silver chafer beetle specimen. The beetles have a base pigment covered by several colourless microscopically thin layers called laminae

Red Admiral -Vanessa atalanta- in search of nectar on Common Boneset, Agueweed or Feverwort -Eupatorium-, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany

Phoebis sennae, cloudless sulphur butterfly
Photograph of a mounted specimen of cloudless sulphur. Male. Species occurs on the Galapagos Islands

Plate 17 from Libellulinae Europaeae by de Charpentier
Illustration of dragonflies. Plate 17 from Libellulinae Europaeae illustrated and described by Toussint de Charpentier, 1840

Common blue butterflies (Polyommatus icarus) basking in the morning light, Vealand Farm, Devon, UK. July

Leaf cutter ants (Atta sp) carrying colourful plant matter, reflected in water, Laguna del Lagarto, Santa Rita, Costa Rica

Leaf cutter ants (Atta sp) carrying plant matter, Costa Rica

Entomological specimens of Lepidoptera
Unidentified photograph of mounted specimens of butterflies and moths

Inachis io, peacock butterfly
Plate 23 from Illustrations of British butterflies and their larvae, with the plants on which they feed, by Theo Johnson, 1892

Morpho cypris, blue morpho butterfly
Butterfly from Central America. South America. Specimen on display at the Natural History Museum at Tring, part of the Natural History Museum, London

Xanthopan morganii praedicta, sphinx moth
Darwins sphinx moth, found in Madagascar. The species as a whole is known as Morgans sphinx

Ocypus olens, devils coach horse beetle model
A large scale model of the devils coach horse beetle (Ocypus olens). A beetle that is commonly found beneath logs. Held within the Natural History Museum, London

Leaf-cutter ants carrying pieces of leaf
Leaf-cutter ants transporting neatly extracted pieces of leaf. These ants derive from the rainforests of Central and South America

Hummingbird hawk-moth (Macroglossum stellatarum) feeding on nectar inside a clammy cuphaea flower (Cuphea viscosissima)

Fruit fly, SEM Z340 / 0768
Fruit fly. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of a fruit fly (Drosophila funebris) on an apple. Its compound eyes (red) are seen and its wings are outstretched

Mosquito in Dominican amber
A mosquito in trapped and preserved in Dominican amber. Lower Miocene about 20 million years old. Image from Amber The Natural Time Capsule. Figure 90

Cladognathus sp. stag beetle
A specimen of a large stag beetle from Asia. Stag beetles belong to the family (Lucanidae). Only male stag beetles have horns or antlers

H. W. Bates illustrated notebooks
Plate 7 from a notebook of Henry W. Bates (1825-92) relating to the insect fauna of the Amazon Valley or DRW, 1851-1854

Ophrys apifera, bee orchid
Watercolour by Arthur Harry Church, 17 June 1913

Beetles
Double page spread of pencil and watercolour illustrations and sketches of beetles by Henry Walter Bates

Cimex lectularius, bed bug
Scanning electron microscope image of a bed bug (x 17). The sucking mouthparts enable the feeding bedbugs to pierce the hosts tissues and siphon out a blood meal

Longhorn beetle

Schistocerca gregaria, desert locust
A desert locust perching on a branch. Locusts sometimes swarm to form groups of up to 80 million and can migrate over large distances

Head louse, SEM
Head louse. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of a head louse (Pediculus humanus capitis) clinging to a human hair. Head lice measure 2-3 millimetres in length

Ant, SEM
Ant. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of an ant (family Formicidae). One of its compound eyes (red) is seen, as well as two long antennae that are mounted on the head between the eyes

Swallowtail butterfly (Papilio ulysses telegonus). This butterfly is also known as the blue mountain butterfly. It is native to Indonesia and Australia, inhabiting the rain forests

Bees and beehive, 17th century artwork. Bees are social insects that form colonies around a queen bee. They gather nectar and pollen to feed their larvae, also producing honey

Culex mosquito, SEM
Culex mosquito. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of a Culex sp. mosquito. The mosquitos head is dominated by its large compound eyes (brown spheres)

Sabatia bartramii, savannah pink & Eacles imperialis, imperi
Drawing 11 (Ewan 38) from the Botanical and zoological drawings (1756-1788) by William Bartram. Held in the Botany Library at the Natural History Museum, London

Pharmacophagus antenor, giant swallowtail
Giant swallowtail butterfly and the common rose (Pachliopta aristolochiae). Plate 15 from Insects of India by Edward Donovan (1768-1837)

Butterflies from the Amazon by H. W. Bates
A page (p 144) from a notebook of Henry W. Bates relating to the insect fauna of the Amazon Valley or DRW, 1851-1854

Honey Bee, Apis mellifera, bees on wild honey cone, Welder Wildlife Refuge, Sinton, Texas, USA

Fruit fly brain, illustration C018 / 0791
Fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster) brain, illustration. The two large structures at right and left are the optic lobes, which process information from the flys large compound eyes

Beetle illustrations
Double page spread of pencil and watercolour illustrations of beetles by Henry Walter Bates

Coloured sketches of insects on Page 35 from Bates notebook 1. Bates was a renowned Victorian entomologist

Gromphadorhina portentosa, hissing cockroach
A pair of hissing cockroaches also known as the Madagascan hissing cockroach. This species of roach is chocolate brown with no wings

Entomological specimens of Lepidoptera
Unidentified photograph of mounted specimens of butterflies and moths

Simulium damnosum, Simulian blackfly
Scanning electron microscope image of the head showing the compound eye (x 130). The fly is a vector of a parasite which causes River Blindness. Coloured artifically by computer

Flea illustration
Page 201 from Micrographia or some Physiological description of minute bodies made by magnifying glasses (1665) by Robert Hooke

Papilio montrouzieri butterfly. This butterfly is native to New Caledonia in the Pacific Ocean

Honey bee, SEM
Honey bee (Apis mellifera), coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM)

Ornithoptera alexandrae, Queen Alexandras birdwing butterfl
Digital image of the upperside of a mounted specimen of a Queen Alexandras birdwing butterfly from the family Papilionidae

Fruit fly, SEM
Fruit fly. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of a male fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster) flying past plant foliage. Its compound eyes (red) are seen and its wings are outstretched

Tropical shield mantis (Choeradodis sp. ) Sumaco National Park, Napo, Ecuador
Tropical shield mantis (Choeradodis sp.) Sumaco National Park, Napo, Ecuador

Orange-tip butterfly (Anthocharis cardamines), male on Cuckooflower (Cardamine pratensis). Brackagh Moss National Nature Reserve, Portadown, County Armagh, Republic of Ireland. May

Malaysian Orchid Mantis (Hymenopus coronatus) pink colour morph, camouflaged on an orchid. Captive, from Malaysia

Mottled Shieldbug or Stink Bug -Rhaphigaster nebulosa-, larva, Untergroeningen, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany, Europe

Praying Mantis (Mantodea), Libya, Sahara, North Africa, Africa

Acorn weevil (Curculio glandium) Portrait on an Oak bud, Hertfordshire, England, UK, May - Focus Stacked - Captive

Glanville fritillary butterfly (Melitaea cinxia) roosting on larval foodplant Ribwort plantain (Plantago lanceolata), UK - Captive - Focus Stacked Image

Malaysian Orchid Mantis (Hymenopus coronatus) white colour morph camouflaged on an orchid. Captive. Originating from Malaysia

Trap-jaw ant (Odontomachus hastatus) with mandibles open, Los Amigos Biological Station, Peru

Calleta silkmoth (Eupackardia calleta), Texas USA Controlled conditions

RF - White-legged damselfly (Platycnemis pennipes) peering over Oxeye daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare) flower. The Netherlands. August

RF - Apollo butterfly (Parnassius apollo) nectaring on flower. North Tyrol, Austria. June. Focus stacked image. (This image may be licensed either as rights managed or royalty free.)

Cairns birdwing butterfly (Ornithoptera euphorion) male resting on leaf. Kuranda Butterfly Sanctuary, Queensland, Australia. Captive

Small pearl-bordered fritillary (Boloria selene) butterfly on oxeye daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare), Marsland mouth, North Devon, UK. May 2017

European swallowtail butterfly (Papilio machaon gorganus) on flower, Mercantour National Park, Provence, France, June

White prominent moth (Leucodonta bicoloria) County Kerry, Ireland

RF - Devils flower mantis (Idolomantis diabolica) male, captive, occurs in Africa

Elephant hawk moth (Deilephila elpenor) portrait, Brackagh Moss National Nature Reserve, Portadown, County Armagh, Northern Ireland. April

Small pearl-bordered fritillary butterfly (Boloria selene), Marsland mouth, Cornwall, UK. JUne 2016

Tropical shield mantis (Choeradodis sp. ) (Possibly C. rhombicollis) Canande, Esmeraldas
Tropical shield mantis (Choeradodis sp.) (Possibly C. rhombicollis) Canande, Esmeraldas, Ecuador

American Cockroach, Periplaneta americana, side view

Caterpillar, Elephant Hawk-moth -Deilephila elpenor-, Emsland, Lower Saxony, Germany

Hydroporus rufifrons, diving beetle
Close-up shot of a diving beetle (Hydroporus rufifrons). Specimen held in the Natural History Museums Entomology Department

20th Century Art: Weevil (Rhopalomesites tardyi), 1998 by Ma
Watercolour. Russell is an example of a scientist turned artist. Trained initially as an entomologist his combined love of beetles and art resulted in a series of exceptional drawings of weevils

Morpho rhetenor, blue morpho butterfly
Illustrative plate of a blue morpho butterfly from Insects of China by Edward Donovan (1768-1837)

Inachis io, peacock butterfly
Plate 23 from Illustrations of British Butterflies and their Larvae (1892) by Theo Johnson. Cropped image of illustration

Trap-jaw ant (Odontomachus chelifer) portrait, Wayqecha, Peru

European honey bee (Apis mellifera) feeding on ice plant flowers (Sedum spectabile), Monmouthshire, Wales, UK. September

Mating pair of chalkhill blue butterflies (Lysandra coridon) with wings closed resting on Devils-bit scabious (Succisa pratensis), Hatch Hill, Somerset, UK. August

Meadow Brown Butterfly (Maniola jurtina) feeding from Scabious flower (Scabiosa) North Downs, Surrey, England, UK, August

Marsh fritillary butterfly (Euphydryas aurinia) feeding on Wild garlic / Ramsons (Allium ursinum) at Strawberry Banks, Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust (GWT), Nature Reserve, Gloucestershire, UK. May

Line of Leaf-cutter ants (Atta sp) carrying leaves, digital composite

Edwards Atlas Moth (Attacus edwardsii) in defensive posture, Bhutan, June

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"Insecta: A Kaleidoscope of Nature's Wonders" Ornithoptera alexandrae, commonly known as Queen Alexandra's birdwing butterfly, showcases its majestic beauty with vibrant hues and intricate patterns. Honey bees diligently work on a honeycomb, their teamwork and precision creating the sweet nectar we all enjoy. Entomology specimens offer a glimpse into the incredible diversity of insects, each specimen telling a unique story of adaptation and survival. The Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) takes a moment to sunbathe on a plant, its wings spread wide to soak up the warm rays of sunlight. Common blue butterflies (Polyommatus icarus) gracefully bask in the morning light at Vealand Farm in Devon, UK, painting the landscape with delicate shades of blue. The Chrysina limbata silver chafer beetle shines like molten metal under sunlight, reminding us that even tiny creatures can possess extraordinary allure. Inachis io or peacock butterfly captivates with its iridescent wings resembling an artist's masterpiece as it flutters through meadows and gardens. The Red Admiral - Vanessa atalanta - embarks on a quest for nectar amidst blooming Common Boneset in Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany; nature's harmonious dance between insect and flower unfolds before our eyes. Sea green swallowtail butterfly glides effortlessly through coastal landscapes, enchanting observers with its ethereal beauty against azure skies and emerald waves. Under microscopic scrutiny lies the intricate world of fruit flies (SEM Z340 / 0768), revealing their astonishing complexity despite their diminutive size – yet another reminder that appearances can be deceiving. Phoebis sennae or cloudless sulphur butterfly brings sunshine wherever it goes; its golden wings brightening up gardens and meadows with their radiant glow.