Fairy Wasp
Photo: Spike Walker
Olympus held their last Bioscapes contest in 2014. Its purpose was to promote microscopy. Promotions have moved off the web and onto social media. OlympusBioscapes still posts numerous colorful and compelling images of living organisms including many insects.
The Fairy Wasp (left) is a 2008 first place winner by Spike Walker of the UK. Fairy wasps are difficult to photograph because of their fragility and small size. Most fairy wasps are less than 1 mm in length. They are egg parasitoids and must fit inside the eggs of their host. Many of their body parts are reduced in size including the wings. Insects this small are easily pushed about by the wind. Their small size also means that they need little power to stay aloft. In some species that parasitize aquatic eggs, the wings can be used both to fly in the air and paddle in the water.
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