It’s raining in Melbourne as I write this, and on my way to work I saw pale pink earthworms everywhere, scattered and exposed all over the footpath like soft-bodied streamers.It was a visible reminder, as I dodged to avoid squishing the inaugural winners, in 2024, of the invertebrate of the year contest, of the magnificent array of 1.7m invertebrate species we share the planet with.The Guardian’s annual celebration of the spineless gives us a chance to appreciate and celebrate invertebrates in all their weirdness and magnificence, whether they be furry, fast-flying, gelatinous or beady-eyed.We’re lucky to have them, after all, and not just for the jobs they perform – recycling our waste, pollinating our crops, and filtering our water – but also for the joy they bring (hello, bumblebees!). Especially when so much of the world’s biodiversity news is devastating.More than 1,300 readers have nominated their favourites. We have weevilled it down to the top 10. Now, it’s time for you to vote – after this week’s most important reads.Essential reads
Could England and Wales ever run out of water?
The return of the caspian tiger: how a species feared extinct has come back to Kazakhstan
‘Unprecedented, dangerous territory’: US north-west reckons with a summer of historic wildfires
