Piotr Naskrecki's Image

As soon as it began to rain Piotr grabbed his camera, knowing that termites would soon emerge. Sure enough, clouds of insects swarmed around his lens, forcing him to swap to a red light, which is less attractive to insects. He captured this termite – and several carpenter ants – atop a carpet of shed wings.

Rain softens the ground, presenting a rare opportunity for termites to form colonies. Before they start digging, they fly from their nest in search of a mate. Once paired, they shed their wings to make it easier to burrow. They dig in a race against time as the event is a feast for insect-eating birds and reptiles. Once sealed inside, they mate.