It is estimated that there are 10 trillion (10,000,000,000,000,000,000) individual insects alive on planet Earth at any one time. We don’t blame you if you’re not a fan of all of them – but some are actually beautiful if you look closely. (It’s not just murder hornets and cicadas out there!)
From pink praying mantises to golden beetles, hummingbird-like moths and picturesque stink beetles – the world is full of insects that would not be out of place in an art museum. Here’s everything you need to know about why beetles evolved this way, plus a look at some of the most beautiful insects ever discovered.
Why do insects have different colors and patterns?
Beetles evolved with unique looks for a number of important reasons: camouflage, mating, and protection, explains Akito Y. Kawahara, Ph.D., associate professor and curator at the Florida Museum of Natural History at the University of Florida.
By merging with their environment, insects like the orchid praying mantis set predators to slide or become invisible to their prey. Displaying vivid colors helps bugs like the coastal peacock spider attract mates. And more conspicuous insects like the green milkweed locust show their colors to warn that they are poisonous or taste bad.
Consider a hairy caterpillar: These hairs serve a specific purpose by keeping wasps from landing on the caterpillar and appearing unsavory to birds, says Kawahara. But people see them as cute, or at least less freaky than other bugs. “It’s our interpretation, the way people perceive the beautiful and the rough,” he continues. Other ways do the same calculus in a different way.
Another great example of the genius of beautiful insects is the monarch butterfly, notes Kawahara, which feeds on poisonous milkweed as a caterpillar. When it shows up as a fully grown butterfly, its recognizable wings advertise that it tastes gross – and that it could even kill any predator unlucky enough to eat it. In addition, other species with similar defense mechanisms, including viceroy and queen butterflies, have evolved into monarchs, providing additional protection for all three species.
What are the most beautiful insects in the world?
No matter what, remember that all bugs (yes, even that spider hiding in your closet!) Deserve your respect. “We shouldn’t pretend ourselves by just looking at the beautiful things,” says Kawahara. “It’s unfortunate that people don’t think insects are great for who they really are.”
With so many species to choose from, it’s hard to narrow down the nicest beetles in the group – but here are the ones that really caught our eye:
What is it: Sphaerocoris annulus
Where it comes from: Tropical Africa
What you should know: The aptly named Picasso beetle is a stink beetle-like insect that, according to a 2011 study, uses its distinctive, vivid markings to warn predators to stay away.
What is it: Hymenopus crowbar
Where it‘s of: South East Asia
What you should know: Despite their ethereal beauty, the tiny, flower-like orchid praying mantises are quite bloodthirsty and use their mimicry to attract unsuspecting pollinators to delight in quickly.
What is it: Hemaris spp.
Where it comes from: North America, Africa, Europe and Asia
What you should know: No, this is not a hummingbird, but a moth! Several species of day-flying insects are common around the world, and they move and feed on nectar much like their bird doppelgangers, according to the US Forest Service.
What is it: Chrysis spp.
Where it comes from: Worldwide (except Antarctica)
What you should know: Good news: These tiny, dazzling beauties probably can’t sting you – instead, they parasitize other wasps. Their glittering appearance is the result of complex refraction of light and a dimpled exoskeleton, and scientists still don’t know why they are so colorful. (Aside from moths, these are Kawahara’s favorite insects.)
What is it: Phymateus viridipes
Where it comes from: South Africa
What you should know: These locusts flash their brightly colored wings to warn predators – and that’s actually quite helpful, as they secrete a liquid from milkweed plants when threatened.
What is it: Umbilical crassicornis
Where it comes from: South and Central America, Mexico
What you should know: A common pest in South Florida, the thorn beetle has adapted to look strikingly similar to thorns. According to the University of Florida, the insects cling to trunks and tree trunks in large groups, making them difficult even for humans to recognize at first.
What is it: Includes
Where it comes from: North America
What you should know: Distinguished by shades of pink, yellow, and purple directly from a starburst wrapper, the rosy maple moth is one of the smallest with a maximum wingspan of just two inches. Butterflies are perhaps the most popular winged insects, Kawahara says, but moths are just as interesting.
What is it: Phyllium bioculatum
Where it comes from: South East Asia
What you should know: Leaves, meet your doppelgangers. These tropical beetles look so similar to plants that it is even difficult for us to spot them. The slow-moving herbivores can be green, yellow, orange, or red and are likely unchanged from millions of years ago, according to researchers at Virginia Tech.
What is it: Maratr beautiful
Where it comes from: South Australia
What you should know: Like your great-aunt who lives in South Beach, the coastal peacock spider doesn’t like dressing up. Made famous through multiple viral videos, male spiders perform a complex dance routine to woo females – and just like their eponymous bird, their fabulous colors play a big part.
What is it: Charidotella sexpunctata
Where it comes from: North and South America
What you should know: Found in the vast majority of the United States, the golden turtle beetle looks like a tiny gold coin with transparent edges. Surprisingly, when they die, their brilliant metallic sheen fades, leaving a dull reddish-yellow color.
What is it: Automeris io
Where it comes from: North America
What you should know: This guy may look as harmless as moss or artificial turf, but the io moth’s caterpillar stings painfully. Its characteristic spines can cause wheals, itching, and redness (though nowhere near as bad as the tomcat).
What is it: Morpho menelaus
Where it comes from: South and Central America
What you should know: The blue morpho butterfly is one of the most iridescent creatures on earth, showing a jewel-like hue at the top and a brown underside at the bottom, making it difficult for predators to find and track.
What is it: Pseudocreobotra wahlbergii
Where it comes from: Southern and Eastern Africa
What you should know: The prickly flower mantis obviously likes to show itself. With green, pink, yellow, and red variations, the species is cannibalistic and feeds primarily on aerial snapped insects that are wooed by their swirling patterns. However, they are not always as pretty: when they first hatch, they look like black ants.
What is it: Poecilotheria metallica
Where it comes from: India and Sri Lanka
What you should know: Plain old spiders may be creepy, but cobalt blue ones are beautiful. Their blue coloring is likely used to find partners. Unfortunately, sapphire tarantulas are listed as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature due to hunting and habitat loss.
What is it: Chrysochroa bouquet
Where it comes from: Thailand
What you should know: Jewel beetles live in every corner of the world, but some of the most spectacular (including this species and their immediate family) call Thailand home. Surprisingly, according to a 2017 study, beetles could actually use bright colors as camouflage rather than warning signs.
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