The 30 Most Beautiful Insects in the World
At any given moment, it’s estimated that 10 quintillion (10,000,000,000,000,000,000) individual insects are alive and kicking on planet Earth. We don’t blame you if you’re not a fan of them all—but quite a few are actually beautiful, if you look closely enough. (It’s not all murder hornets and cicadas out there!)
From blush-pink mantises to golden beetles, hummingbird-like moths to painterly stink bugs, the world is full of insects that wouldn’t look out of place in an art museum. Here’s everything you need to know about why bugs have evolved this way, plus a look at a few of the most beautiful insects ever discovered.
Picasso Bugprettiest insects in the world
ALANDMANSON / WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
What it is: Sphaerocoris annulus
Where it’s from: Tropical Africa
What to know: The aptly named Picasso bug is a stink bug-like insect that uses its distinctive, vibrant markings to warn predators to stay away, per a 2011 study.
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