The 30 Most Beautiful Insects in the World
Cuckoo Wasp
cuckoo wasp
PHOTOGRAPHY BY PAULA THOMASGETTY IMAGES
What it is: Chrysis spp.
Where it’s from: Worldwide (except Antarctica)
What to know: Good news: These tiny, iridescent beauties probably can’t sting you—instead, they parasitize other wasps. Their glittering appearance is the result of complex light refraction and a dimpled exoskeleton, and scientists still don’t know why they’re so colorful. (Aside from moths, parasitic wasps like this one are Kawahara’s favorite insects.)
cuckoo wasp
PHOTOGRAPHY BY PAULA THOMASGETTY IMAGES
What it is: Chrysis spp.
Where it’s from: Worldwide (except Antarctica)
What to know: Good news: These tiny, iridescent beauties probably can’t sting you—instead, they parasitize other wasps. Their glittering appearance is the result of complex light refraction and a dimpled exoskeleton, and scientists still don’t know why they’re so colorful. (Aside from moths, parasitic wasps like this one are Kawahara’s favorite insects.)
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02 March 2023
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