This image won the "Insects" category of the Lowland Photo Contest 2024, one of the low countries' (Netherlands and Belgium) most prestigious photo contests. In the foreground you can see a female of the small gold grashopper, probably the most beautiful species of field grasshopper in the low countries. Females have tiny pink wings with which they cannot fly. They are attracted to the song of the flying males, one of which you can see showing up in the background. Jury: "The metallic green base colour combined with the pink wings make the female of the small gold grashopper one of the most beautiful insects in the low lands. The photographer manages to capture a piece of behaviour and ecology of this very special species in one well-considered image. Nicely done!"
The photo was taken in Torgny, in the very south of Belgium.
Maarten is a passionate hobby photographer with an eye for the world of the small. On his weekly blog www.natuurvertelsels he brings a new short story with facts and pictures about nature right in front of your nose every Sunday. He has already won numerous photo competitions with his images.. Read more…