GO WILD

This 8cm-long firefly larva emits a continuous glow from four light organs at its rear, blazing a trail through leaf litter in Thailand’s Peninsula Botanic Garden. The continuous glow is a warning to predators that the larva is unpalatable, while the flashing light of adult fireflies are intended to attract mates.

The image, which is highly commended at the Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2018 awards, was snapped by Christian Wappl. Wappl had to guess what direction the larva would travel in, then captured its journey with a 33-second exposure.

The winners of the competition will be announced on 16 October, and will go on display in London’s Natural History Museum on 19 October.