Glass Beetle

Glass Beetles get their name from the translucent, reflective material that makes up their body and looks like glass. Easily seen from the outside, their anatomical processes can be observed－ mirroring a cycle much like that of a mundane ladybug. On the beetle’s shell, there are seven matte, semi-transparent gray spots on each half; these fourteen sections are made of a metallic material that shimmers slightly in the light. At night, Glass Beetles glow like lightning bugs, but in a larger variety of colors: different hues of green, blue, yellow, and red. Elaborate light displays occur in dense grasses to attract mates, who follow colors, patterns, and intensities they find appealing. After mating occurs, females lays their eggs in hard to reach places, like thin, vertical cracks in trees or rocks. After laying, females no longer participate in the nightly ritual, but males continue to do so until they die. When the cool winds of fall blow in, all Glass Beetles perish, their offspring hatching in the spring and repeating the cycle in the summer. It is believed that seeing and holding one of these insects brings good luck, while killing one brings extremely bad luck. According to folklore, if a human holds one of these insects at night, one of their happiest memories will play out on the reflective surface of the beetle’s shell. Glass Beetles are most commonly found in fields, above lakes, or in clearings near dense forests. They are eaten by any creature that consumes insects; allegedly, they have no taste, but do have a crunchy, gritty texture.