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Pest or picture perfect? Lives of bugs captured in striking detail

Jimmy Reid A yellowjacket wasp found in Loanhead.Jimmy Reid
Jimmy Reid photographed this yellowjacket wasp near his home in Loanhead

When Jimmy Reid goes looking for incredible wildlife to photograph, he doesn't have to stray very far from home.

He looks under drain covers, beneath rocks and even inside the dilapidated shed in his garden in Loanhead, Midlothian.

To some, the wasps, moths, ants and spiders that emerge may be considered mundane, or even a pest.

To Jimmy, a professional photographer, they are the subject of striking close-up shots revealing fascinating detail.

Jimmy Reid An early mining bee sleeping in a garden in Loanhead.Jimmy Reid
An early mining bee sleeping in a garden in Loanhead

"I look in the strangest places and I usually get lucky," he told BBC Scotland News.

"My shed seems to be a gold mine because it's falling apart.

"It's incredible that I've been doing this for 10 years but I still find creatures that I've never seen before."

Jimmy Reid An Emperor Moth found in the Pentland-Hills.Jimmy Reid
An emperor moth found in the Pentland Hills, near Edinburgh

The 39-year-old father also travels to nearby woods and country parks to find new species that he hasn't yet photographed.

"It's so exciting that I'm tempted to go out most evenings in the summer hunting for new subjects whether it be birds or bugs," he said.

"When I'm taking pictures of bees and wasps I try to do this at night when they are sleeping as they are less likely to move - but they are hard to find."

Jimmy Reid Wood ant found on a pine tree in Saulton Big WoodJimmy Reid
Wood ant found on a pine tree in Saulton Big Wood, East Lothian
Jimmy Reid A pond slater found in a clump of algae in Straiton pond in Midlothian.Jimmy Reid
A pond slater found in a clump of algae in Straiton pond in Midlothian
Jimmy Reid Three snipe flies found at Flanders MossJimmy Reid
Three snipe flies found at Flanders Moss, Stirling
Jimmy Reid A male cucumber spider eating a fly in Bilston WoodsJimmy Reid
A male cucumber spider eating a fly in Bilston Woods, Midlothian
Jimmy Reid A yellow jacket wasp being swarmed by antsJimmy Reid
A yellow jacket wasp being swarmed by ants
Jimmy Reid A crane fly found in an Edinburgh gardenJimmy Reid
A crane fly found in an Edinburgh garden
Jimmy Reid A Shield bug in Loanhead in MidlothianJimmy Reid
A shield bug in Loanhead
Jimmy Reid Hoverfly in an Edinburgh back gardenJimmy Reid
Hoverfly in an Edinburgh back garden
Jimmy Reid A tiger beetle found at Saulton Big Wood.Jimmy Reid
A tiger beetle found at Saulton Big Wood
Jimmy Reid Crane fly with parasitic mites found in LoanheadJimmy Reid
Crane fly with parasitic mites found in Loanhead
Jimmy Reid Donacia-semicuprea - a type of beetle found at Flanders Moss in StirlingJimmy Reid
Donacia-semicuprea - a type of beetle found at Flanders Moss in Stirling
Jimmy Reid A bee-fly with its proboscis found at Blackford-Pond in EdinburghJimmy Reid
A Bee -fly with its proboscis found at Blackford-Pond in Edinburgh
Jimmy Reid A Ruby Tailed wasp at Musselburgh Lagoons in East LothianJimmy Reid
A ruby tailed wasp at Musselburgh Lagoons in East Lothian
Jimmy Reid A shield bug laying eggs in Loanhead.Jimmy Reid
A Shield bug laying eggs in Loanhead
Jimmy Reid Owl coughing up a pelletJimmy Reid
An owl coughing up a pellet in the Pentland Hills in Edinburgh
Jimmy Reid Jimmy Reid wears camouflage gear to take pictures of owlsJimmy Reid
Jimmy Reid wears camouflage gear to take pictures of owls