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"The little things run the world," mused entomologist, biologist, naturalist and ecologist E. O. Wilson (1929-2023).

He was referring to "the disproportionate role that they and other invertebrates play in food webs, ecosystem services, and generating and maintaining biological diversity," according to the website of Essig Museum of Entomology, UC Berkeley. "Yet these little things, perilously acting out their roles on stages all around us every day, largely escape the notice of the casual observer." 

Which brings to mind that the Pacific Branch of the Entomological Society of America (PBESA) is seeking images of insects for its annual Insect Salon photo competition. Many of the images will be showcased April 12-15 at the PBESA meeting in Spokane, Wash. The theme: "Progress that Matters. Innovation that Serves. Where Ideas Shine and Impact Grows."

If you're a member of PBESA, you can submit up to three images for the Insect Salon. "We want to see your best, coolest, and most interesting photographs that showcase entomology!" they write on their website. "Winning entrants in this year’s competition will receive not only bragging rights, but also a cash prize! All submitted photographs will be displayed during the conference."

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Submissions are due by April 2.  "All insect taxa are eligible; terrestrial arthropods may be included as well," PBESA says.  Email the images to Lisa Brain at lbrain13@gmail.com. Find the rules here.

To inspire you to enter, here's an image of an ESA-award winning golden dung fly that yours truly took in a Vacaville pollinator garden. The image won the ESA medal for "Best Image by an ESA Member" in the 64th International Insect Salon. (It looks like it's running the world.)

How much do you know about insects? 

The Royal Entomological Society says that:

1. More than one million species of insects have been discovered and described but it is estimated that there may be as many as 10 million species on earth.
2. There are approximately 1.4 billion insects for every person on Earth. The total weight of all the insects is about 70 times more than all the people.
3. Scientists estimate that insects make up to 90 percent of all species of animals on the planet and more than half of all living things.
4. Insects can be found in almost every habitat, from mountain ranges covered in snow to the hottest deserts on the planet.
5. Insects have been around for more than 350 million years, longer than the dinosaurs and flowering plants.
6. The largest known order of insects is Coleoptera (beetles), some 300,000 to 400,000 species of beetle have been described to date. The next largest is the Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths), followed by the Diptera (true flies) and then the Hymenoptera (ants, bees and wasps).  

Ah, the little things that run the world...

Cover image: "Hello, World!"  A worker honey bee emerging. And there will be plenty of work to do. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)