Leaf Beetle of Ecuador is a Living Masterpiece

Habitat: Ecuador
Status: Not Listed

One of my favorite Flickr photographers, Andreas Kay, was lucky enough to spot one of the most beautiful Leaf Beetles I’ve ever seen. He believes it’s the species Aspicela bourcieri and I’m tempted to agree after doing a little googling of my own. However, since we’re not 100% sure the ID remains in question at this point.

The incredible insect looks like its been hand-painted by a highly skilled modern artist. Rusty oranges, turquoise blues, and blood reds adorn its shining exoskeleton. Really, I don’t think you could ask for a more spectacular beetle.

Unfortunately, there’s not much specific info on this creature (if it is in fact Aspicela bourcieri). That’s probably due to the fact that leaf beetles make up the family Chrysomelidae which includes over 35,000 species in more than 2,500 genera. I’m sure it’s hard to pin down everything there is to know about that many beetles. It’s okay though, because all we really need to know is that this is one attractive insect.