By Daily Mail Reporter
26th March 2010
Glistening in the early morning, these insects look like creatures from another planet as dew gathers on their sleeping bodies.
Captured in extreme close-up, one moth appears to be totally encrusted in diamonds as it rests on a twig.
Stunning: Droplets of water bead on the head of this blue dragonfly as it slumbers on a leaf
Dragonflies, flies and beetles also take on an unearthly quality as the water droplets form on them.
These remarkable photographs were taken by physiotherapist Miroslaw Swietek at around 3am in the forest next to his home.
Using a torch, the 37-year-old amateur photographer hunts out the motionless bugs in the darkness before setting up his camera and flash just millimetres from them.
Close up: Amateur photographer Miroslaw Swietek captured this common fly slumbering on top of a plant as the water condenses on its body
Bejewelled: This month looks like it has been encrusted in diamonds as it rests on a twig
Mr Swietek said: 'I took up photography as a relaxing hobby two and a half years ago and I particularly like taking pictures of insects and lizards.
'I photograph them in their natural environment in the forest next to my village.
'They all are covered in dew because I go to the forest in the morning at around 3am.
'At 3am to 4am insects are sleepy and taking photos of them is easy, but it is very difficult to find them.
Close up: The insects appear to be completely drenched in water as they rest while the sun is down
Shower time: Mr Swietek gets up at 3am to capture the insects while they are less active in a forest near his home
'It is very satisfying getting a good shot of an insect which I have had to hunt out.
'I have books which help my identify insects but because they are all covered in dew I find it almost impossible to know which types they are.'
Although insects do not 'sleep' in the same sense as humans, they enter a state of torpor where they are virtually immobile and much less sensitive to external stimuli.
Mr Swietek lives with his wife and teenage son in Jaroszow, a village in Poland around 30 miles from the city of Wroclaw.
Clinging on: The amateur photographer searches for the insects using a torch and then sets up his camera and flash right next to them
Hobby: Another dragonfly enjoys an early morning wash. Mr Swietek only took up photography two and a half years ago
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