From the glorious monarch butterfly to the spiny Australian katydid, from the tilted head of a praying mantis to the delicate wings of a dragonfly, here are Joel Sartore's exquisite portraits of the insects, spiders, and related creatures that fly, burrow, scurry, squirm-and share this planet with us. Larger than life and often staring right into the camera, these remarkable animals represent a fascinating sector of the National Geographic Photo Ark, Sartore's lifelong mission to photograph all animal species in human care around the world. Accompanied by an enlightening narrative that reveals the biology of these creatures, National Geographic Photo Ark Insects escorts you into a world we often overlook. It comes with an invitation from the photographer himself: "Next time you see a fly or an ant, don't swat or step on it," he writes in his introduction. "Look at it more closely instead, and recognize the amazing little creature, honed over eons, that is working hard to keep the entire planet in balance." So hold your breath, take a look, and enjoy these vivid photographs and the fascinating life-forms they reveal.