ADULT GRAND TITLE WINNER
Winner, Behaviour: Invertebrates ‘The Big Buzz’ Karine Aigner, USA
Karine Aigner got close to the action as a group of bees competes to mate. Using a macro lens, he captured the flurry of activity as a buzzing ball of cactus bees spun over the hot sand. After a few minutes, the pair at its centre – a male clinging to the only female in the scrum – flew away to mate.
The world’s bees are under threat from habitat loss, pesticides and climate change. With 70% of bee species nesting underground, it is increasingly important that areas of natural soil are left undisturbed.
Location: South Texas, USA
Sony A7R III and Laowa 24mm f/14 2X Macro Probe lens; 1/1000
