Wasp ‘riding a broomstick’ among top images entered for wildlife photography award

10 hours agoMaddie MolloyBBC Climate & ScienceBidyut KalitaThis image titled “Special Delivery” was highly commended in the Behaviour: Invertebrates category.At first glance, the potter wasp appears to be riding a broomstick.But this industrious insect isn’t flying back to stir its witch’s cauldron, or playing Quidditch. It’s carrying a caterpillar – prey to feed its young.It was captured by macro wildlife photographer Bidyut Kalita and was among the runner-up or ‘highly commended’ entries in this year’s Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition.The winning images will be announced on 14 October,followed by an exhibition at the Natural History Museum, showcasing 100 standout photographs from around the world.Scroll down to explore other highly commended works from the competition.Emmanuel TardyTitle:No Place Like HomePhotographer:Emmanuel Tardy (France)Location:El Tanque, San Carlos, Alajuela, Costa RicaMr Tardy captured a brown‑throated three‑toed sloth clinging to a barbed wire post after crossing a road.As their habitats become fragmented due to tree loss, sloths are forced to make more ground crossings to reach the next tree, leaving them vulnerable.Bertie GregoryTitle:Ice Edge JourneyPhotographer:Bertie Gregory (UK)Location:Ekström Ice Shelf, Atka Bay, AntarcticaMr Gregory captured a group of fledgling emperor penguin chicks teetering on the edge of an ice shelf.After spending two months observing the colony, he saw most chicks using natural ice ramps to descend safely to the sea – but this group had missed the easier route down.Left to fend for themselves, emperor penguin chicks must eventually take a leap into the icy ocean for their first attempt at feeding.Scientists believe that the decline in sea ice may force penguins to breed on ice shelves, making leaps like this a more common thing.Kutub UddinTitle:Slime Family PortraitPhotographer:Kutub Uddin (Bangladesh/UK)Location:Slindon Wood, West Sussex, England, UKMr Uddin discovered a grouping of slime mou…