Man Finds A Rare Beetle Too Beautiful To Be Real

The world is full of extraordinary and fascinating creatures, but nothing could have prepared Michael Farmer for the stunning discovery he made on his property in Costa Rica.

On a day like any other, while ambling among the lush flora and fauna of his estate, his attention was caught by an object that seemed out of place. There, on the leaves of a guava tree, glimmering under the brilliance of the sun, lay a small metallic object.

This shiny artifact was so polished, so chrome-like, that it easily could have been mistaken for a misplaced trinket. The plot thickened when the supposed metal piece began to move.

To Farmer’s amazement, the ‘object’ was actually a living creature, crawling leisurely on the guava leaf. He had just come eyeball to eyeball with one of the world’s most remarkable beetles, Chrysina limbata, known for their extraordinary silvery, reflective shells.

Upon picking up the beetle, to his further astonishment, it stopped in its tracks and played dead– a chance for him to admire this lovely creature up close.

“I was amazed by how beautiful it was. I’ve never seen anything like it,” Farmer says.

He wasted no time and quickly captured these mesmerizing moments by snapping a few pictures. An almost surreal experience, the beetle seemed almost unreal in its beauty.

“[It] was like a mirror. Utterly flawless reflection in the beetle,” he said. “Truly one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen.”

As Farmer delved more into hus intriguing find, he learned that these beetles were quite scarce, victims of both habitat loss and collectors. These once more commonly spotted species in the region, were now hard hit, being caught and sold to collectors who were captivated by their striking beauty.

However, the beetle whose path crossed with Farmer was spared from such an unfortunate fate. Farmer holds the belief in not selling living creatures.

“I don’t believe in selling living creatures like that,” Farmer said. “I put it back on the tree, and it rapidly flew away.”

The encounter with this unusually beautiful creature was Farmer’s first, but he certainly hopes it wouldn’t be his last.

“I’m not much of an insect person,” he said. “[But] I’m still amazed by it. Can’t wait to see another.”

Farmer’s rare encounter is a vivid reminder of the stunning biodiversity that our world holds, concealed in the nooks and corners, waiting to be discovered.