This year’s photos from the Natural History Museum’s long running wildlife photography competition have been released for your perusal. The winner – shown here – shows leaf-cutter ants in Costa Rica.

Photographer Bence Mate says, “They proved to be wonderful subjects. … I love the contrast between the simplicity of the shot itself and the complexity of the behaviour.”

Visitors and residents of London can see ‘A marvel of ants’ along with the other images in the Veolia Environnement Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition at the Natural History Museum until 11 March. Everyone else will have to be content with the online gallery.

Image: © Bence Máté / Veolia Environnement Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2010