A Monarch butterfly with orange, black, and white patterns on its wings is perched on an orange and yellow flower, sipping nectar. The background is green and blurred.
Arthropod Photo of the Week: April 8, 2026
Monarch butterfly
Danaus Plexippus
Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae
Observed in Kentucky, USA
By Virgil Boler, Kentucky, USA
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A close-up of a bee perched on a cluster of vibrant blue flowers with green buds, against a blurred green background.
Arthropod Photo of the Week: April 1, 2026
Sweat bee
Halictus ligatus
Hymenoptera: Halictidae
Observed in North Carolina, USA
By Rey Acevedo (kingacedp.picfair.com), North Carolina, USA
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Close-up image of a dark brown ant standing on light-colored objects, with its body raised and antennae pointed forward, set against a black background.
Arthropod Photo of the Week: March 25, 2026
Cherry acrobat ant
Crematogaster cerasi
Hymenoptera: Formicidae
Observed in Ohio, USA
By Luke Doyle (www.buckeyemyrmecology.com), Ohio, USA
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A small tan leafhopper insect sits on a green blade of grass covered in water droplets, with one droplet reflecting a nearby pink flower.
Arthropod Photo of the Week: March 18, 2026
Leafhopper
Exitianus exitiosus
Hemiptera: Cicadellidae
Observed in Tennessee, USA
By Melinda Fawver, Tennessee, USA
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Close-up image of an insect showing detailed features, including a large compound eye, fine hair-like structures on its body, segmented legs, and translucent wings.
Arthropod Photo of the Week: March 11, 2026
Owlfly
Ascaloptynx appendiculata
Neuroptera: Ascalaphidae
Observed in Arizona, USA
By Tom Astle (@tjalamont.bsky.social), California, USA
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A close-up photo of a metallic green bee in mid-flight against a dark blurred background. One wing is blurred from motion, and details of the bee’s body hair and legs are visible.
Arthropod Photo of the Week: March 4, 2026
Orchid bee
Euglossa sp.
Hymenoptera: Apidae
Observed in Minas Gerais, Brazil
By Carlos Augusto Asanuma, Sao Paulo, Brazil
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Close-up of a blue damselfly perched on a green fern, showing its large compound eyes and detailed body markings. The background is blurred, highlighting the insect and plant.
Arthropod Photo of the Week: February 25, 2026
Common blue damselfly
Enallagma cyathigerum
Odonata: Coenagrionidae
Observed in Dorset, UK
By Luke Edenborough (lukeedenborough.com), Alabama, USA
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Close-up of two round, red mites and one smaller orange mite attached to a thin brown segment of the leg of a harvestman arachnid, showing detailed body texture and fine hairs.
Arthropod Photo of the Week: February 18, 2026
Mites on Harvestman Leg
Leptus sp.
Trombidiformes: Erythraeidae
Observed in Cloudland Canyon State Park, Georgia, USA
By Steve Long, Florida, USA (www.longnaturephotography.com)
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Four reddish-brown ants work together to carry a small white feather across a mossy surface against a dark background.
Arthropod Photo of the Week: February 11, 2026
Weaver ants
Oecophylla sp.
Hymenoptera: Formicidae
Observed in West Bengal, India
By Sekhar Bandyopadhyay, West Bengal, India
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Several green, black-spotted caterpillars with fine hairs cluster on a partially eaten leaf against a black background.
Arthropod Photo of the Week: February 4, 2026
Great southern white
Ascia monuste
Lepidoptera: Pieridae
Observed in Florida, USA
By Cheri Abraham (cheriabraham.com), Florida, USA
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A close-up view of a hairy caterpillar with black and yellow stripes crawling on a tree branch, shown in profile against a blurred background with circular light spots.
Arthropod Photo of the Week: January 28, 2026
Yellownecked caterpillar
Datana ministra
Lepidoptera: Notodontidae
By Jan McKinney, Kentucky, USA
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A butterfly rests on a cluster of yellow wildflowers at sunset, with a dark horizon and a dramatic orange and yellow sky in the background.
Arthropod Photo of the Week: January 21, 2026
Monarch butterfly
Danaus plexippus
Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae
Observed in Iowa, USA
By Curtis Meyers, Iowa, USA
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A close-up image shows a predatory insect holding and feeding on another insect while perched on a twig. The fly’s large green eye and fine details of both insects are clearly visible.
Arthropod Photo of the Week: January 14, 2026
Robber fly with winged termite
Asilus sp. / Reticulitermes sp.
Diptera: Asilidae / Blattodea: Termitidae
Observed in West Bengal, India
By Sekhar Bandyopadhyay, West Bengal, India
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A row of oval, brown insect eggs is lined up along the edge of a green leaf against a dark background. The leaf surface shows some texture and minor blemishes.
Arthropod Photo of the Week: January 7, 2026
Broadwinged katydid eggs
Microcentrum rhombifolium
Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae
Observed in Florida, USA
By Cheri Abraham (cheriabraham.com), Florida, USA
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Two butterflies with black, yellow, and orange patterned wings are mating on a green leaf. The background is blurred greenery.
Arthropod Photo of the Week: December 31, 2025
Orange-spotted tiger clearwings
Mechanitis polymnia
Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae
By Francisco López-Machado (@frank-68.bsky.social), Valle del Cauca, Colombia
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A spotted insect with long legs and antennae is perched on a green plant, while a small ant walks on one of its appendages. The background is black.
Arthropod Photo of the Week: December 24, 2025
Leaffooted bug and ant
Chariesterus moestus
Hemiptera: Coreidae
By Alberto Sánchez Herrera, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
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A green grasshopper is perched on a thin stem with small buds and a single orange tubular flower, set against a black background.
Arthropod Photo of the Week: December 17, 2025
Grasshopper nymph
Species unknown
Orthoptera: Acrididae
By Shashidharswamy Hiremath, Karnataka, India
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Four brightly colored insects with metallic blue-green legs and heads and vivid red, oval-shaped bodies are grouped on a green leaf. The insects have black markings along their backs.
Arthropod Photo of the Week: December 10, 2025
Stink bug nymphs
Species unknown
Phasmatodea: Family unknown
By Matthew G. Guilin, North Carolina, USA
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A close-up side view of a black and brown fly with large eyes on yellow flower stamens, with a blurred dark background.
Arthropod Photo of the Week: December 3, 2025
Thick-legged hoverfly
Syritta pipiens
Diptera: Syrphidae
By Robert Kunter, Sachsen, Germany
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A close-up image of a spider with spiny legs and a patterned body, resting on a textured brown surface.
Arthropod Photo of the Week: November 26, 2025
Lichen huntsman spider
Pandercetes sp.
Araneae: Sparassidae
By Valentina Lyau, California, USA
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A close-up view of a brown, elongated insect resembling a stick or twig, with bulbous eyes at the top and a rough-textured body against a plain, dark background.
Arthropod Photo of the Week: November 19, 2025
Horsehead grasshopper
Pseudoproscopia latirostris
Orthoptera: Proscopiidae
By Dennis Botterbusch, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
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A close-up of a yellow and black spotted beetle perched on the edge of a light purple petal, with a black background. The beetle’s antennae and legs are clearly visible.
Arthropod Photo of the Week: November 12, 2025
Leaf beetle
Diabrotica sinuate
Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae
By Cherre Sade Bezerra Da Silva, Goiás, Brazil
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A close-up image of a black ichneumon wasp with long antennae and orange legs standing on a piece of wood, with a blurred green background.
Arthropod Photo of the Week: November 5, 2025
Parasitoid wasp
Rhyssella sp.
Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae
By Christian Brockes (wildmacro.de), North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
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Close-up of a spider facing the camera with a yellow egg sac beneath it, surrounded by soil and debris. The image shows fine details of the spider’s eyes, legs, and body texture.
Arthropod Photo of the Week: October 29, 2025
Net-casting spider
Asianopis sp.
Araneae: Deinopidae
By Dennis Botterbusch, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
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A close-up image of a yellow insect with textured, bumpy skin perched on a bright yellow flower. The background is blurred, highlighting the details of the insect and petals.
Arthropod Photo of the Week: October 22, 2025
Jagged ambush bug
Phymata sp.
Hemiptera: Reduviidae
By Tom Astle (@tjalamont.bsky.social), Montana, USA
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Close-up image of a bright orange, fuzzy moth with feathery antennae and black eyes perched on the edge of a green leaf. Black background.
Arthropod Photo of the Week: October 15, 2025
Tangerine furry-legs moth
Acraga moorei
Lepidoptera: Dalceridae
By Tom Myers, Kentucky, USA
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Close-up view of a yellow and orange wasp's face, showing detailed compound eyes, antennae, and mouthparts, against a bright red background. The wasp is perched on a piece of wood.
Arthropod Photo of the Week: October 8, 2025
Social paper wasp
Agelaia pallipes
Hymenoptera: Vespidae
By Alexandre Andes Gascon, Florida, USA
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Tomorrow, October 8, is the deadline for the National Insect Photographic Exhibition, organized by the Creative Camera Club of Lexington, Kentucky. Images selected will be showcased at #EntSoc25 and may also be highlighted in #arthropodPOTW www.creativecamera.club/blank-11
A close-up of a long-legged spider holding a cluster of gray eggs beneath its body. The background consists of a brown, textured surface, possibly a dried leaf.
Arthropod Photo of the Week: October 1, 2025
Tailed cellar spider
Crossopriza lyoni
Araneae: Pholcidae
By Rodolfo Vega Littlewood (rvlfoto.weebly.com), Sonora, Mexico
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A red and black beetle with wings extended appears to be taking off from a green, leafy plant. The background is blurred, highlighting the insect amid foliage in the foreground.
Arthropod Photo of the Week: September 24, 2025
Red net-winged beetle
Punicealis hamata
Coleoptera: Lycidae
By Adam Haberski (@ahaberski.bsky.social), Alaska, USA
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