From Jewel Beetles to Orchid Mantises: The World’s Most Colourful Insects

Insects, often overlooked due to their small size, are among the most diverse and visually captivating creatures on Earth. From dazzling iridescence to striking patterns, some insects boast colors that rival even the most flamboyant birds or fish. Their vibrant hues serve many purposes—from camouflage and mating displays to warning predators of their toxicity. Here’s a look at ten of the most unique and colorful insects that can be found in the wild.

1. Jewel Beetle (Buprestidae)

Often resembling a gem with wings, jewel beetles are a dazzling family of beetles known for their metallic, iridescent shells. These beetles shimmer in greens, blues, and purples and are especially prominent in tropical forests. The vibrant sheen comes not from pigment, but from microscopic structures on their exoskeletons that reflect light—much like a soap bubble.

Jewel beetles use their bright coloration for camouflage, blending into glossy leaves or bark, while others may use it to startle predators. They're also among the longest-lived beetles in terms of larval development, with some species spending over a decade in that stage.

2. Rosy Maple Moth (Dryocampa rubicunda)

With its soft cotton-candy colors of pink and yellow, the Rosy Maple Moth looks more like a piece of candy than a nocturnal insect. Native to North America, especially the eastern United States, it is often found near maple trees, which serve as a food source for its larvae.

Despite its delicate appearance, it is quite hardy and not considered rare. Its vivid coloration is a type of protective mimicry, making it look unappetizing to potential predators.

3. Peacock Spider (Maratus spp.)

Though technically an arachnid and not an insect, the Peacock Spider deserves a spot on this list. These tiny Australian jumping spiders are known for their bold, iridescent color displays—particularly the males, who lift and vibrate colorful abdominal flaps in elaborate mating dances.

Each species of peacock spider has unique patterns—some resemble stained glass, others a rainbow kaleidoscope. Their dances, paired with their colors, are so mesmerizing that they've gone viral in nature circles online.

4. Orchid Mantis (Hymenopus coronatus)

An insect that takes mimicry to artistic levels, the Orchid Mantis resembles the petals of a flower with astonishing precision. Its pale pink and white body can change hue depending on light and background, and the insect sways gently, mimicking the motion of an orchid in the wind.

This camouflage not only protects it from predators but also makes it a deadly ambush predator itself. Unwary pollinators mistake it for a real flower—until it’s too late.

5. Sunset Moth (Chrysiridia rhipheus)

Found primarily in Madagascar, the Sunset Moth is often mistaken for a butterfly due to its brilliant, iridescent wings. The colors range from neon green and turquoise to black, orange, and yellow, arranged in kaleidoscopic patterns that shift as the moth moves.

The wing coloration is not due to pigment but structural coloration—tiny scales that refract light. Interestingly, while the adult moth is a feast for the eyes, the caterpillar feeds on toxic plants, which makes the adult unpalatable to predators.

6. Blue Dasher Dragonfly (Pachydiplax longipennis)

The Blue Dasher is one of North America’s most photogenic dragonflies. Males sport a brilliant blue abdomen with a contrasting white face and clear, veined wings that catch and scatter sunlight as they zip through wetlands and ponds.

Apart from their looks, Blue Dashers are agile aerial predators, catching and consuming mosquitoes and other flying insects mid-air. Their iridescence helps regulate body temperature and possibly plays a role in territorial displays.

7. Harlequin Bug (Murgantia histrionica)

With a vibrant orange and black shield-like body, the Harlequin Bug is hard to miss. This member of the stink bug family is native to Central America but has spread across the United States, where it's known for feeding on cabbage and related plants.

Its bold colors are aposematic—serving as a warning to predators that it is toxic or foul-tasting. Though considered a pest in agriculture, it's still an eye-catching representative of the insect world.

8. Sri Lanka Blue Glassy Tiger (Ideopsis similis)

Native to South and Southeast Asia, the Blue Glassy Tiger is a butterfly that stuns with its pale blue, semi-translucent wings adorned with black veins and dots. Its slow, graceful flight and almost ethereal appearance make it a standout in tropical forests.

Like many butterflies, it derives chemical defenses from the plants it consumes as a caterpillar, making it distasteful to predators—a fact reinforced by its distinctive wing coloration.

9. Rainbow Shield Bug (Calidea dregii)

One of the most dazzling shield bugs in Africa, the Rainbow Shield Bug lives up to its name with its reflective, metallic exoskeleton that displays multiple hues—greens, purples, pinks, and blues—depending on the angle of light.

These bugs are mostly found in the tropics and feed on the sap of plants. Their coloration, like other iridescent insects, helps them blend into the colorful foliage while also deterring potential predators.

10. Lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula)

Despite its name, the Lanternfly doesn’t emit light, but its colorful body is a spectacle. Originally from Asia, this insect is now an invasive species in parts of the U.S. It boasts spotted forewings and a shockingly bright red underwing with black spots, revealed only when it is disturbed.

While its appearance is striking, its presence can be harmful—especially to vineyards, orchards, and hardwood trees. Nevertheless, its vivid coloration earns it a place among nature's most colorful insects.

Nature never ceases to amaze with the diversity and brilliance of insect life. Whether it’s a moth that looks like a flower, a bug that reflects a rainbow, or a spider that dances like a pop star, these creatures remind us that beauty often lies in the smallest corners of the wild. Their colors are not just for show—they represent survival, adaptation, and sometimes, a mysterious evolutionary path that scientists are still striving to understand.

From rainforests to backyards, colorful insects are a visual testament to the creative force of evolution—and a powerful reason to protect their habitats. The next time you see a flash of iridescence on a leaf or a shimmer of wings in the sun, look closer. You might be catching a glimpse of one of nature’s tiniest masterpieces.