The Jeweled Dome
Charidotella sexpunctata
The "Structural" Glow
Their golden color is not caused by pigment but by structural coloration. The beetle’s cuticle consists of multiple layers of "glowing" chitin filled with microscopic fluid-filled channels.
The "Golden Mirror" Illusion
The "glow" is so perfect that it can act as a distraction camouflage. In the dappled sunlight of a garden, the beetle reflects its surroundings, making it look like a "glowing" drop of dew rather than an insect.
A "Glow" of Purity
Unlike metallic paint which can chip, the "glow" of the Tortoise Beetle is part of its very structure. As long as the beetle is alive and healthy, it remains one of the purest gold objects found in the natural world.
Field notes
| Range | The Americas |
|---|---|
| Lifespan | Several months |
| Size | 5 mm to 7 mm |
| Weight | Approximately 0.01 g |
| Colour | Iridescent Gold |
| Diet | Herbivorous |
| Family | A member of the Chrysomelidae family (Leaf beetles) |
In the book
The The Jeweled Dome is number 92 of the 101 creatures in Glowing Bugs. Its two pages show it from three sides, at its true size, with a map of where it lives. The plate is an artistic interpretation and does not show the true colours of the living animal.
