Winning image of a common agricultural pest reveals the beauty and complexity of insects often overlooked in daily life
Nikon Instruments Inc. today announced the winners of the 51st annual Nikon Small World Photomicrography Competition, celebrating over five decades of excellence in microscopy and digital imaging. The first-place prize was awarded to China's Zhang You for his striking image of a rice weevil mounted on a grain of rice. The image captures the insect with its wings fully extended, frozen in a moment that provides insight into the structure and behavior of a familiar yet often overlooked agricultural pest.
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A member of the Entomological Society of China and the Entomological Society of Yunnan Province, You's winning work is a product of the years he has spent focused on ecological and insect science photography, as well as teaching others about entomology. “It pays to dive deep into entomology: understanding insects' behaviors and mastering lighting,” You said. “A standout work blends artistry with scientific rigor, capturing the very essence, energy, and spirit of these creatures.”
The choice of scale in the image emphasizes the insect's actual size while contextualizing its ecological role as a pest known for attacking seeds of several crops. Using a medium-format camera paired with a 5x microscope objective, You captured over 100 images for focus stacking, carefully cleaning, lighting, and post-processing the specimen over the course of two weeks.
The subject itself was a rare and fortunate find. “I had observed rice weevils in grains before, but never one with its wings spread,” You explained. “This one was naturally preserved on a windowsill, perhaps in a final attempt to escape. Its tiny size makes manually preparing spread-wing specimens extremely difficult, so encountering it was both serendipitous and inspiring.” Insects, from pollinators to pests, play vital roles in ecosystems and economies alike, and You's work encourages audiences to recognize the complexity hidden among these communities.
In addition to winning first place, You also earned 15th place in the 2025 competition with an image of a Geometer moth (Geomitridae) laying eggs, further demonstrating the range and depth of his skill.
“Zhang You's work demonstrates the remarkable power of microscopy to reveal new perspectives on the world around us,” said Eric Flem, Senior Manager, Communications and CRM at Nikon Instruments. “What makes this year even more extraordinary is that it was his very first time entering the competition, and he not only captured first place, but also placed another image in the top 20. His achievement highlights the spirit of Nikon Small World: inspiring wonder, making scientific understanding accessible to all, and celebrating the artistry of the microscopic realm.”
Second place was awarded to Dr. Jan Rosenboom for his image of Volvox spheres in a drop of water.
Third placewas awarded to John-Oliver Dum for his image of pollen in a web of a garden spider.
In total, Nikon Small World recognized 71 photos out of thousands of entries from scientists and artists across the globe.
The 2025 judging panel included:
— Deboki Chakravarti, PhD, Science Communicator, Host and Creator of “Journey to the Microcosmos,” “Tiny Matters,” “Scishow Tangents,” and “Crash Course Organic Chemistry.”
— Jeff DelViscio, Chief Multimedia Editor and Executive Producer at Scientific American
— Andrew Moore, PhD, Postdoctoral Scientist in the Lippincott-Schwartz Lab at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Janelia Research Campus
— Liz Roth-Johnson, PhD, Curator of Life Sciences at the California Science Center
— W. Gregory Sawyer, PhD, Chief BioEngineering Officer and Chair of the Department of BioEngineering at the Moffitt Cancer Center
For additional information, please visit www.nikonsmallworld.com, or follow the conversation on Facebook, Twitter @NikonSmallWorld, Instagram @NikonSmallWorld, and LinkedIn.
NIKON SMALL WORLD WINNERS
1st PlaceZhang YouKunming, Yunnan, ChinaRice weevil (Sitophilus oryzae) on a grain of riceImage Stacking5X (Objective Lens Magnification)
2nd Place Dr. Jan RosenboomRostock, Mecklenburg Vorpommern, GermanyColonial algae (Volvox) spheres in a drop of waterReflected Light5X (Objective Lens Magnification)
3rd Place John-Oliver DumMedienbunker ProduktionBendorf, Rheinland Pfalz, GermanyPollen in a garden spider webImage Stacking20X (Objective Lens Magnification)
4th Place Dr. James HayesVanderbilt UniversityDepartment of Cell and Developmental BiologyNashville, Tennessee, USAHeart muscle cells with chromosomes condensed following cell divisionConfocal100X (Objective Lens Magnification)
5th Place Dr. Igor SiwanowiczHoward Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI)Janelia Research CampusAshburn, Virginia, USASpores (blue/purple structures) of a small tropical fern (Ceratopteris richardii)Confocal25X (Objective Lens Magnification)
6th Place Dr. Francisco Lázaro-DiéguezAlbert Einstein College of MedicineBronx, New York, USARat liver cellsConfocal63X (Objective Lens Magnification)
7th Place Stella WhittakerNational Institutes of HealthNational Institute of Neurological Disorders and StrokeBethesda, Maryland, USAiPSC-derived sensory neurons labelled to show tubulin and actinConfocal, Fluorescence, Image Stacking10X (Objective Lens Magnification)
8th PlaceDr. Igor SiwanowiczHoward Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI)Janelia Research CampusAshburn, Virginia, USAMallow pollen germinating on stigma while being parasitized by a filamentous fungusConfocal40X (Objective Lens Magnification)
9th Place Wim van EgmondMicropolitan MuseumBerkel en Rodenrijs, Zuid Holland, NetherlandsA fungus (Talaromyces purpureogenus) known for its red, diffused pigmentImage Stacking10X (Objective Lens Magnification)
10th Place Dr. Dylan Burnette & Dr. James HayesVanderbilt University School of MedicineDepartment of Cell and Developmental BiologyNashville, Tennessee, USAHeart muscle cells (iPSC-derived) showing condensed chromosomes in metaphaseStructured Illumination Microscopy (SIM)60X (Objective Lens Magnification)
11th Place Marek MisMarek Mis PhotographySuwalki, Podlaskie, PolandSunflower trichomes (hair-like plant outgrowths)Polarized Light10X (Objective Lens Magnification)
12th Place Halli Lindamood & Eric VitriolAugusta UniversityDepartment of Neuroscience and Regenerative MedicineAugusta, Georgia, USAThe actin cytoskeleton (cyan) and endoplasmic reticulum (red) of a mouse brain cancer cellConfocal, Deconvolution100X (Objective Lens Magnification)
13th Place Henri KoskinenHelsinki UniversityHelsinki, Uudenmaan lääni, FinlandSlime mold (Arcyria major) releasing sporesImage Stacking, Reflected Light10X (Objective Lens Magnification)
14th Place Manfred HeisingLWL Museum of Natural History MünsterMünster, Northrhine-Westphalia, GermanyQuartz with biotic goethite filamentsImage Stacking5X (Objective Lens Magnification)
15th Place Zhang YouKunming, Yunnan, ChinaGeometer moth (Geometridae) laying eggsImage Stacking5X (Objective Lens Magnification)
16th Place Rogelio MorenoPanama, PanamaSpore sacs (sporangia) of a fernFluorescence, Image Stacking40X (Objective Lens Magnification)
17th Place Hong GuoChengdu, Si Chuan, ChinaWater fleas (Daphnia) and algaeImage Stacking5X (Objective Lens Magnification)
18th Place Marius Mählen, Koen Oost, Prisca Liberali & Laurent GelmanFriedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical ResearchBasel, Basel Stadt, SwitzerlandFluorescently marked mouse colonConfocal20X (Objective Lens Magnification)
19th Place Eduardo Agustin CarrascoCuenca, Azuay, EcuadorParasitic fungus (Cordycipitaceae) on a fly (Calliphoridae)Image Stacking2X (Objective Lens Magnification)
20th Place Zachary SanchezVanderbilt UniversityDepartment of Cell and Developmental BiologyNashville, Tennessee, USAMarine copepodConfocal60X (Objective Lens Magnification)
Honorable Mentions
Mishal Abdulaziz Alryhan
FIAPAl-Ahsa, Saudi ArabiaCrystallized soy sauce fusion with alumImage Stacking, Polarized Light, Reflected Light10X (Objective Lens Magnification)
Jiri CernyInstitute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of SciencesLight Microscopy Core FacilityPrague, Czech RepublicJumping spiderDeconvolution, Fluorescence, Image Stacking, Light Sheet5X (Objective Lens Magnification)
Dr. Bruno Cisterna & Dr. Eric VitriolMedical College of Georgia at Augusta UniversityDepartment of Neuroscience & Regenerative MedicineAugusta, Georgia, USAHuman neurons reprogrammed from skin cellsConfocal20X (Objective Lens Magnification)
Dr. Frédéric Fercoq & Jean-Gabriel RothanMuséum National d'Histoire NaturelleParis, FranceLarvae of a filarial parasite (nematode)Confocal40X (Objective Lens Magnification)
Rebecca LeeYale UniversityDepartment of GenetricsNew Haven, Connecticut, USAVilli in the mouse small intestineConfocal, Fluorescence40X (Objective Lens Magnification)
Dr. Zisong MaUniversity of Science and Technology of ChinaHefei, Anhui, ChinaCorydalis pallidaseed (light yellow) and elaiosome droplet (semitransparent)Brightfield, Image Stacking10X (Objective Lens Magnification)
Gregory B. MurrayPritchard, British Columbia, CanadaFrost on a wooden railingImage Stacking5X (Objective Lens Magnification)
Kendall O. Myers & Dr. Matthew S. LehnertKent State University at StarkDepartment of Biological SciencesNorth Canton, Ohio, USAHook-like crochets on the larva of an Io (Automeris io) mothConfocal40X (Objective Lens Magnification)
Michael Parra PuentesBogotá, Cundinamarca, ColombiaThoracic and cephalic horn of a male beetle (Golofa porteri)Image Stacking3.7X (Objective Lens Magnification)
Michael Robert PeresRochester Institute of TechnologySchool of Photographic Arts and SciencesRochester, New York, USAMelting snowflakeBrightfield
Images of Distinction
Bilal AkhtarInstitute of Molecular BiologyNeuroscience-RNA BiologyMainz, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany14-day-old mouse neuronal co-culture with astrocytesConfocal40X (Objective Lens Magnification)
Bernard AllardClub Français de MicroscopieSucy-en-Bry, FranceParasitic fly (Crataerina hirundinis)Differential Interference Contrast (DIC)10X (Objective Lens Magnification)
Syed Ashraf, Dr. Divya Sridharan & Ms. Salvia ZafarThe Ohio State UniversityDepartment of Emergency MedicineColumbus, Ohio, USAHuman iPSC-derived cardiac organoidConfocal, Deconvolution, Image Stacking10X (Objective Lens Magnification)
Jean-Marc BabalianNantes, France3/4 view of an old Pentium 90 processorImage Stacking2.5X (Objective Lens Magnification)
Thomas Barlow, Sergio Bernal-Garcia & Kevin GonzalezColumbia UniversityDepartment of Neurobiology and BehaviorNew York, New York, USAMouse pyramidal neuron, from the hippocampal CA1 regionConfocal, Deconvolution, Fluorescence100X (Objective Lens Magnification)
Frantisek BednarSvosov, Zilinsky, Slovak RepublicFilamentous green alga (Spirogyra sp.) showing conjugating tubes and fused cells (zygotes)UV Autofluorescence, Image Stacking, Deconvolution10X (Objective Lens Magnification)
Dr. Noah R. BressmanSalisbury UniversityDepartment of BiologySalisbury, Maryland, USAHistologically-stained harvestfish/star butterfish (Peprilus paru)Brightfield0.63X (Objective Lens Magnification)
Özgür Kerem BulurIstanbul, TurkeySpotted eye hoverflyImage Stacking2X (Objective Lens Magnification)
Dr. Arthur Chien & Dr. Ann Na ChoMacquarie UniversityMicroscopy Facility, MAFFMacquarie University, New South Wales, Australia3D brain organoids in a custom organ-on-a-chip deviceConfocal20X (Objective Lens Magnification)
Dr. Rory L. Cooper & Professor Michel MilinkovitchUniversity of GenevaDepartment of Genetics and EvolutionGeneva, SwitzerlandWing of the chicken embryo after 11 days of developmentFluorescence, Light Sheet1X (Objective Lens Magnification)
Dr. Stephen De LisleKarlstad UniversityDepartment of Environmental and Life SciencesKarlstad, Värmland, SwedenLily flower pollen (autofluorescence)Fluorescence, Image Stacking40X (Objective Lens Magnification)
Dr. Stephen De LisleKarlstad UniversityDepartment of Environmental and Life SciencesKarlstad, Värmland, SwedenPlanktonic microalgae (Dinobryon)Differential Interference Contrast (DIC), Image Stacking60X (Objective Lens Magnification)
Karl DeckartEckental, Bavaria, GermanyRecrystallization of phenyl imidazolBrightfield, Polarized Light10X (Objective Lens Magnification)
Shambhavi Dwivedi & Dr. Friedemann KieferUniversity of MünsterFaculty of BiologyMuenster, North-Rhine Westphalia, GermanyMouse lymphatic network (red) flanking blood vessels (white)Confocal10X (Objective Lens Magnification)
Dr. Amy C. EngevikMedical University of South CarolinaDepartment of Regenerative Medicine & Cell BiologyCharleston, South Carolina, USAMouse small intestineFluorescence10X (Objective Lens Magnification)
Daniel EvrardAywaille, Liege, BelgiumAndroconial (pheromone producing) area of a butterfly (Colias) wingImage Stacking10X (Objective Lens Magnification)
Dr. Walter FerrariWalter Ferrari MacroRio Cuarto, Cordoba, ArgentinaTrue bug (Hemipteran) eggs on a leafImage Stacking5X (Objective Lens Magnification)
Dr. Laurent FormeryUniversity of California BerkeleyDepartment of Molecular and Cell BiologyPacific Grove, California, USASkeleton of a juvenile sea cucumberConfocal10X (Objective Lens Magnification)
Daniel HanDiatoms Australia (Macro Cosmos Imaging)Sydney, New South Wales, AustraliaDiatoms (Arachnoidiscus sp.) on coralline algaeDifferential Interference Contrast (DIC), Image Stacking36X (Objective Lens Magnification)
Dr. Mette Handberg-Thorsager, Alexandre Alié & Lisa Maria UlbrichGeorg-August-University GöttingenDepartment of Multiscale BiologyGöttingen, Niedersachsen, GermanyOozoid of a sea squirt (Thalia democratica) Light Sheet10X (Objective Lens Magnification)
Stephanie HuangVictoria University of WellingtonSchool of Biological Sciences; School of PsychologyWellington, New ZealandPyramidal neurons from the ventral orbital cortex (prefrontal cortex) from an adult rat brainConfocal, Deconvolution, Fluorescence, Image Stacking60X (Objective Lens Magnification)
Lauren (Wren) JohnsonPowered ResearchIn Vitro ServicesDurham, North Carolina, USAMouse retina showing vasculature (red), nerve bundles (green) and macrophages (magenta)Fluorescence20X (Objective Lens Magnification)
Charles KrebsCharles Krebs PhotographyIssaquah, Washington, USABarnacle cirri exoskeleton auto-fluorescing. Diatoms with chlorophyll shown in bright red.Fluorescence, Image Stacking5X (Objective Lens Magnification)
Frederic LabauneEducation NationaleAuxonne, Burgundy, FranceSlime mold (Arcyria denudata)Image Stacking5X (Objective Lens Magnification)
Dr. Francisco Lázaro-DiéguezAlbert Einstein College of MedicineBronx, New York, USADedifferentiated liver cellConfocal20X (Objective Lens Magnification)
Dr. David Maitlandwww.davidmaitland.comArt of ScienceSt. Andrews, Fife, United KingdomVascular bundles in a bamboo leaf (Phyllostachys sp.)Brightfield, Fluorescence, Image Stacking20X (Objective Lens Magnification)
Jianguo MaoShanghai, Shanghai, ChinaPregnant water flea (Daphnia)Darkfield, Image Stacking5X (Objective Lens Magnification)
Dr. Joe McKellarCNRSThe Institute of Molecular Genetics of Montpellier (IGMM)Montpellier, Hérault, FranceGiant human hepatic cancer cell surrounded by smaller cellsConfocal, Fluorescence, Super-Resolution63X (Objective Lens Magnification)
Marek MisMarek Mis PhotographySuwalki, Podlaskie, PolandAir bubbles in melted polyvinyl alcoholPolarized Light10X (Objective Lens Magnification)
Marek MisMarek Mis PhotographySuwalki, Podlaskie, PolandCrystallized soy saucePolarized Light10X (Objective Lens Magnification)
Jonathan MuyalParis, FranceIridescent rutile (mineral) needles in a Burmese rubyReflected Light10X (Objective Lens Magnification)
Heiti PavesTallinn, Harju, EstoniaMouse embryo, sagittal sectionBrightfield20X (Objective Lens Magnification)
Dr. Gonzalo Quiroga ArtigasCRBM-CNRSMontpellier, Herault, FranceTardigradeConfocal40X (Objective Lens Magnification)
Dr. Julien ResseguierUniversity of OsloDepartment of Biosciences / FYSCELLOslo, Viken, NorwayImmune cells (magenta) protecting the different tissue compartments of the zebrafish intestinesConfocal, Deconvolution, Fluorescence60X (Objective Lens Magnification)
Igor RudkovskyPechory, Pskov, Russian FederationSlime mold (Cribraria purpurea)Image Stacking, Reflected Light5X (Objective Lens Magnification)
Robert Schmittling
Hillsborough, North Carolina, USA
Eye of potato (stomate)
Oblique Lighting, Brightfield, Image Stacking
16X (Objective Lens Magnification)
Hannah SomersMDI Biological LaboratoryLight Microscopy FacilityBar Harbor, Maine, USAAn adult zebrafish showing blood vessels in the brainLight Sheet4X (Objective Lens Magnification)
Dr. Michael WeberBerlin Institute of Health at CharitéDepartment of Human GeneticsBerlin, GermanyBlood vessels in the limb of an embryonic mouseLight Sheet Microscopy1X (Objective Lens Magnification)
Doong YienXmato WorksBeijing, ChinaCrystallization of a mixed solution of alanine and glutamine under polarized lightPolarized Light20X (Objective Lens Magnification)
Solvin ZanklKiel, Schleswig-Holstein , GermanyA floating sea slug (Glaucus atlanticus, also known as the blue sea dragon)Darkfield5X (Objective Lens Magnification)
Ye Fei ZhangJiang Yin, Jiang Su, ChinaButterfly (Artopoetes pryeri) eggsImage Stacking10X (Objective Lens Magnification)
About Nikon Small World Photomicrography CompetitionThe Nikon Small World Competition is open to anyone with an interest in photography or video. Participants may upload digital images and videos directly at www.nikonsmallworld.com. For additional information, contact Nikon Small World, Nikon Instruments Inc., 1300 Walt Whitman Road, Melville, NY 11747, USA, or phone (631) 547-8569. Entry forms for Nikon's 2026 Small World and Small World in Motion Competitions are available at https://enter.nikonsmallworld.com/.
About Nikon Instruments Inc.Nikon Instruments Inc. is the U.S. microscopy arm of Nikon Healthcare, a world leader in the development and manufacturing of optical, digital imaging technology and software for biomedical applications. For more information, please visithttps://www.microscope.healthcare.nikon.comor contact us at 1-800-52-NIKON.
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