Did you know there are over 12,000 species of ants all over the world? Chances are you have one near you. They are fast little suckers, too.

Tip: Try to anticipate where they will be going. Set your focus on that spot and when they get there, snap away.

Moths and butterflies are difficult for even seasoned nature photographers to be able to capture images of. Their larval stage is much easier, though. You can find caterpillars from early spring to late autumn. Even a regular inch worm is interesting in the right light.

Tip: Look for leaves that have nibbled edges. Check the underside of surrounding leaves to spot a caterpillar.

Grasshoppers, katydids, and crickets are easy to spot. You can simply walk around and see them jumping. They have fantastic expressions and personalities which make them so fun to photograph.

Tip: Lie on the ground and slowly crawl towards them. As long as you are slow, they will rely on their camouflage and likely stay put until you are too close for their comfort. You should be able to get a shot before then, though.

I know I just lost you, didn’t I? There are some cute spiders. There really are. Jumping spiders are quite cute and less intimidating looking than their long fanged cousins.

Tip: If getting up close and personal with a spider is not your thing, try using your zoom lens. You may start to warm up to arachnids.

I know for a fact you have seen a fly recently. Chances are it bothered you. Now you can turn the tables and bother it.

Tip: Flies will likely not let you get super close to capture much detail, so use this opportunity to practice in camera composition. Because let’s face it, fly photos aren’t that interesting without some compelling composition.