This sharp spur on the hind leg identifies this shining leaf chafer beetle as a male. The function of these pointed projections is unknown, but they may be used in courtship and mating.

“The tiny pits that dot this beetle’s exoskeleton add strength without increasing weight. Just as an I-beam is stronger than a solid beam of steel, folds and dimples create a durable exoskeleton.”

“These images are amazingly detailed, measuring up to 30,000 pixels wide. To make them, a computer stitches together thousands of images in three dimensions. In a few places, the stitching is imperfect.”

Scales with a three-dimensional, crystal-like structure create each beetle’s colorful pattern. These scales selectively scatter certain wavelengths of light.

These colorful weevils belong to a family called the snout beetles. Look closely and you can see that each one sports a well-developed “nose,” eyes, and antennae.

“The fine sensory hairs that cover this beetle’s body help the insect gather information about its environment. Hairs may help detect air movement, humidity, mating pheromones, and more.”

This group of weevils can’t fly. Their front wings have evolved into extremely rigid structures called elytra that cover and protect their abdomens. These elytra have fused permanently closed.

These fancy feet have a sharp claw and sticky, hair-like structures on the bottom, which allow these beetles to walk on slick or rough surfaces without slipping. Their five-jointed foot is called a tarsus.