Usually when we talk about bugs or insects, we imagine something repulsive and gross, and even scary. Probably more than one of you even has a phobia and can’t stand those little critters. But it might surprise you that there are some bugs that have such interesting forms and colors that you entirely forget they are related to the cockroach living under your sink in your student dormitory.
Knowing that, Bored Panda searched high and low, roaming the internet to find the most impressive bugs that resemble works of art because of their bright colors, intricate patterns or unusual forms. And what is best of all, you can safely observe their beauty from the comfort and safety of your own home, so enjoy!
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Steel Blue Ladybug
When talking about bugs, we should probably start with defining what they are. To help us do that, Bored Panda contacted a couple of entomologists. They are people who study insects. One of them is Cole Gilbert, who is a professor at Cornell University and his fields of interest include insect behavior and insect physiology. And we also got in touch with Claudia Husseneder, who is a professor at Louisiana State University who specializes in population genetics and molecular biology of insects and symbionts.
Both scientists admit that this is a tricky question as the word ‘bug’ can refer to a number of things, like a computer bug or something that is ‘bugging them.’ Entomologists consider true bugs to be about 110,000 of the million different kinds of insects.
Saw This Little Guy At The Shooting Range Today
Made A New Friend
Professor Cole Gilbert explains what differentiates bugs from other types of insects: “They have the wings crossed over the back in an X pattern, rather than with a straight line down the middle of the back like beetles have. And they do not have chewing jaws, they have a tube for mouthparts. It is stiff, not curly like that of a butterfly or moth. They stab their food with the tube and inject salivary enzymes to digest the food, whether it is a plant or animal, and then suck the juicy insides out.”
Not All Bees Are Yellow And Brown, This Is A Northern Blue Banded Bee
The Pattern On This Moth, Looks Like A Snowman
The Orchid Mantis
Bored Panda was curious to know if all the million insects are important to keep the ecosystem going and even such creatures as cockroaches are really necessary to earth. And the scientists are have no doubts about that, because all beings have such intricate interactions between each other that “the loss of some could drastically change the environment,” as Professor Gilbert puts it.
Professor Husseneder explains in more detail: “Ecosystems consist of complex interwoven food webs and insects are part of the foundation/basis of the food pyramid. From the human perspective, cockroaches are pests, but they are the biomass cleaning and recycling crew of the planet, removing decaying plants and animal waste. And they make a tasty protein snack for animals.”
Altas Moth
Really Cool Grasshopper
Look At Them Eyes
Of course, some species go extinct and if the process is slow, ecosystems will adapt, but if they are drastic, “it can disrupt the balance and, in extreme cases, lead to a cascade failure.” Professor Claudia Husseneder gives a metaphor to help you imagine it easier: “Imagine a net. You can cut a few strands and it still holds its shape and your weight, because other strands can compensate. If you cut too many strands, other connections will snap, and when the point of no return is reached, the whole thing collapses.”
The Amazing Picasso Bug
A Bumblebees Bum And Lil' Legs Hanging Out Of A Flower
Mecynorrhina Torquata, One Of The Largest Flower Beetles In The World
This guy is so marvelous he could easily have been the sole inspiration for Art Nouveau!
So there are bugs like cockroaches that we hate to see and they gross people out, but they actually have a place in the ecosystem, whether we like it or not. But in this list, we found the most impressive bugs that look so colorful and unusual.
Entomologists have several explanations why some of them are less boring than others. Both professors agree that one of the reasons is to attract mates and the other is to intimidate the enemy. Cole Gilbert adds that bright colors often indicate “that the insect is dangerous in some way, especially poisonous. Even their toxin does not kill a predator that tries to eat one, the bold colors are more memorable and the predator will likely not try for seconds.” Claudia Husseneder adds that “Harmless insects mimic warning colors to 'pretend' that they are not good eats or they make themselves invisible by using camouflage.”
This Moth My Neighbor's Dog Found
Eww! Bugs Can’t Be Adorab... Never Mind
Ladybug In Morning Dew
It was really fun to chat with these specialists and get answers to our questions, but what are the questions that these scientists ask themselves? What do they want to know the answers to? Well, both entomologists started with saying that if you ask different people, they will have different interests. Professor Husseneder thinks that the “greatest challenge of the future is the loss of insect abundance and the extinction of species that we didn’t even know were there.”
She thinks it is very important to collect data and determine what impact to the world even the tiniest creatures have, “to assess impact of challenges and devise solutions to make sure we can live in balance with the good, the bad and the colorful.”
Dalmatian Moth
This Buff-Tip Moth Disguised As Birch Wood
A White Ghost Cicada
Cole Gilbert also has his list of what he would like to know more about. Like “Is there really a decline in insect numbers worldwide, and if so, what is the cause?” Is it the pollinators? He suspects that they do have a part in that, but not all insects.
Another thing to think about is “Where did insect wings come from? All the other groups of creatures that fly, i.e., birds, bats, and extinct flying reptiles, lost the ability of their front legs for walking, but evolved them into wings. Insects did not lose the function of any of their 6 legs to get the two pairs of wings they have.”
What confuses entomologists is also “Why are there no insects in the ocean? Insects dominate the land and are abundant in freshwater, but not marine systems. Crustaceans, which are the closest relatives of insects, are present in oceans and freshwater systems, but not so much on land. What causes this separation?”
Lady Bug Made A Trail In The Morning Dew On My Car
Little Moth Says "Yo"
Spiny Flower Mantis
So now we know that every creature from the smallest to the biggest is an important part of this world, but there are also so many other things to find out.
But for now we can just admire the interesting beings that live on this Earth that people captured in photos. We would love to know what you think of this list, and did you see the beauty in them? Also, we are curious if you have any guesses to answer the specialists’ questions? Leave us your thoughts and reactions in the comments!
And if you would like more colorful bug content, here you will find an article Bored Panda made with makeup artist Duran Jay, who creates eye makeup inspired by the little creatures.
This Trippy Little Bug Landed On Me Today
Elephant Hawk Moth. Was Cutting Down Some Hedges And Found This Guy In His Chrysalis
Left him on the windowsill and was making a cup of tea one morning and he landed on my hand.
Matching Outfits
Spicebush Swallowtail Caterpillar Pretending To Be A Snake
My Mom Snapped A Picture Of This Bug. Never Seen Anything Like It
Bumblebee Enjoying The Flower
This Bug Mimics Leaf With Veins, Spots And Bite Marks
This Moth I Spotted
Giant Devils Flower Praying Mantis
My Silkworm Hatched From Its Cocoon Today And Became A Tiny Teddy-Bear Bug
I See The Moth You Found At Work And Raise You This Moth I Found At Home
This Is My Pet Spiny Leaf Bug
This Moth Is As Big As My Hand
My Boy, Rainbow Stag Beetle
Found A Ultramarine Pill Bug Today
According to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), pill bugs turn this blue color when they are infected with a virus that thins their exoskeleton. Their blood is blue, so they turn blue when this happens.
Hickory Horned Devil
Pretty Green Beetle
Doesn't It Look Like A Bubblegum?
Polybothris Sumptuosa, A Jewel Beetle From Madagascar
My Pet Beetles
Good Morning Metallic Color Beetle
My Friend Had A Bug On His Windshield That Made Him Look Like A Godzilla Monster
I Found A Beetle That Looks Like It's Made Of Pure Gold
This Cool Bug I Saw Today
Silkworm Moth
This Bug Looks Like A Tiki Mask
Italian Beetle
I think we need some italian speedrun music! https://youtu.be/BaPoFsOR3k4?t=90
The Happy-Face Spider
Jumping Spider
Eudicella Schultzeorum
The Nut Weevil
A Hand Fed A Bumblebee
This Bumblebee Carried Youngster On His Back
Jewellery
My dumb ass was trying to figure out what kind of bugs the rings were.
This Bug Looks Like A Carved Pumpkin
We Found A Pill Bug That Looks Like An Actual Pill Capsule
This Adorable Moth That's Chilling On My House
A Weevil From My Backyard, I Love Weevils So Much
I Love The Variety Of Isopods And Keeping Them As Pets
If You Were Ever Wondering What An Albino Ladybug Looks Like
These Bugs Were Going At It On My Rose Bush And The Little Guy Gave Me A High Five
Blue Featherleg
Various Beetles From All Over The World
This Bug Is Leaving Footprints On A Foggy Car Window
The Thorax Of This Bug Looks Like A Cat With Sunglasses
Jewel Beetle
Pink And Yellow Moth
Jewel Bug Momma
"Sharon, Clive, Rachel, Tiffany...wait, where's Kevin? HAS ANYONE SEEN KEVIN?"
Man Faced Stink Bug
Rainbow Stag Beetle
Big-Eyed Caterpillar
Cubaris Jupiter Quickly Becoming One Of My Favorite Pet Isopods
Chlorocala Africana Oertzeni
Beautiful Orchid Mantis
White Lady Bug On My Flower
Leopard Moth
Are Bugs Allowed Here Too? Because Check Out This Moth
Here's One Of My Isopods. He Seems Angry But Was Just Hungry
I Think It’s Time For A New Artwork
Tortoise Beetle
Xylotrupes Gideon
Leaf Bugs, A Species Unique To Madagascar
Ladybug Boop
My BF’s House Is Full Of Little Rosy Maple Moths
Hello Friends
Various Beetles From North Thailand
Jewel Bugs
The Color Of This Beetle
When I Walked Up To This Beetle, It Did A Hand Stand And Froze
My Leaf Bug
Here's A Photo I Took Of Some Mating Damselflies, Their Bums Briefly Make A Heart Shape
Happy Little Stink Bug Eggs
A Beautiful Small Stag Beetle Species Lamprima Adolphinae From New Guinea
An Orange Ladybird
Red-Nosed Lanternfly
A Lovely Evening Photoshoot
Such A Pretty Green Weevil
Longhorned Beetles
An Inordinately Large Beetle
The King Has Fallen
The assassination of Julius Caesar outside the Largo di Torre Argentina in Rome, 15 March 44 BC. (Artist's impression)
Platycostis Vittata (Oak Tree Hopper)
A Fiddler Beetle, Native To Australia
Subadult Spiny Flower Mantis
Teal Colored Beetle
Family Picture
What are these? We have lots of them in our garden and they are the source of many a disagreement in our family.
Saddleback Caterpillar
Iridescent Green Christmas Beetle
Blue Beetle
Giant Silk Moth Caterpillar
I once saw one of this caterpillar in our village. It was such a precious moment. It was the cutest bug i have ever seen in my entire life :)
Lady Bug In Dew
Kongo Flower Beetles From Kongo
Yellow Lady Bug
So Much Detail
Cotton Stainer
Tongue Out
A Cute Ladybug
Black And White Weevil
These Weevils are really beautiful, but the tiny holes kinda freak me out.
Rainbow Dung Beetle
Yellow Woolly Bear
Jewel Bug Also Known As Sheild Backed Bug, Metallic Bugs Known For Their Colours
Nymph Of Lychee Giant Stink Bug
Stare Down Contest Champion
Very Cool Bug In My Garden Yesterday
In the late 19th century there was a craze for using beetle wings on evening gowns and stage costumes, most notably Ellen Terry's gown as Lady Macbeth
Kudzu Bug
Green Stink Bug
The Adventures Of A Ladybird
This Leaf Bug Is Trying To Switch The Channel
This Lady Bug Has No Spots
Birth Of An Assassin Bug Nymph
Christmas Bug's?
Shield Bug
Stag Beetles
Orchid Mantis
This is not an orchid mantis, this is another Spiny Flower Mantis. The colors are likely photoshopped, or at least enhanced, although some individuals do get very bright colors.
Cubaris Sp. “White Tiger” Isopod
Cubaris “Rubber Ducky” Isopod 1 Of The Many Awesome Species Of Isopod
Some Of The Most Interesting Bugs Ever
This Cute Ladybug Landed On My Hand
I used to love when they landed on me, until one bit me. All the lies!!
Dogbane Leaf Beetle
On The Key Word Spring Awakening
This Ladybug Is Rarer To Be Found
Cave Ghost Isopod Female With Fresh Born Babies
Fig Beetle Collection
All Five Of The Species Of Beetles Currently Cohabiting In My Display Tank
White Head Duckys, A Beautiful Isopods Species From North Thailand
Reflective Bug
Striped Bug, Is A Super Common Shield Bug Here In Italy
Rhopalomeris Sp. From Thailand
Someone Must Be Hungry
Big Clown Stink Bugs
Baby Cubaris Amber Isopods
On The Edge
Leaf Eating Weevil
Morning Dew
A Bug In My Backyard
Striped Shield Bugs
Chlorochroa Sayi, Stink Bug
An Autumn Lucky Charm
My Leaf Bug Is Getting Ready To Molt To Adult
Buprestid Beetle
Two Shield Bugs
An Assassin Bug
Giant Scarlet Assassin Bug
Zebra Isopods
Isopods
Can You See It?
Amber Ducky Isopods Family
Various Isopods
Today I Took The First Picture I've Ever Been Proud Of. Cute Lil Lady Bug
I love bugs...so cute and truly beautiful. I learned from this that moths can be beautiful too
I love bugs...so cute and truly beautiful. I learned from this that moths can be beautiful too