Rice Weevil on a Grain of Rice Wins 2025 Nikon Small World Contest: A Look at the Pest's Beauty and Complexity
A stunning image of a rice weevil on a single grain of rice has won the 2025 Nikon Small World photomicrography contest, offering a unique perspective on this well-known agricultural pest. The image was taken by Zhang You of Yunnan, China, and showcases the intricate details of the weevil's structure and behavior. This is not You's first win; another of his photographs placed 15th in this year's contest.
"It pays to dive deep into entomology: understanding insects' behaviors and mastering lighting," You said in a statement. "A standout work blends artistry with scientific rigor, capturing the very essence, energy, and spirit of these creatures."
There was an element of luck in creating his winning image. "I had observed rice weevils in grains before, but never one with its wings spread," You said. "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."
Nikon's annual contest, founded in 1974, aims to "showcase the beauty and complexity of things seen through the light microscope." Photomicrography involves attaching a camera to a microscope (either an optical microscope or an electron microscope) to capture high-resolution images. British physiologist Richard Hill Norris was one of the first to use it for his studies of blood cells in 1850, and the method has increasingly been highlighted as art since the 1970s. Technological advances, particularly with digital imaging, have further enhanced the field.
This year's contest highlights the intersection of art and science, showcasing the intricate beauty of the natural world through the lens of a microscope. It also emphasizes the importance of understanding insects' behaviors and the mastery of lighting techniques in creating stunning and scientifically accurate images.
