Leaf Beetles - Cabinet of Curiosities

Welcome to the Cabinet of Curiosities, where we're exploring history, one curious little object at a time. Today, we’re continuing our tour of my beetle collection with a spotlight on the gloriously diverse family Chrysomelidae—the leaf beetles.

Chrysomelidae is one of the largest beetle families, boasting a wild variety of colours and shapes. I currently have three specimens in my collection, pictured below. Identifying these tiny, jewel-like beings was a bit of an adventure—and a test of patience. There’s every chance I’ve made a mistake despite my research, so if you happen to be a fellow beetle enthusiast, please feel free to gently correct me in the comments!

This little one is Oides decempunctata—a spotted treasure with a golden sheen and black markings that look like they were painted on by a miniature artist.

Here we have the Eight-spot Golden Leaf Beetle, Oides duporti. Its markings are bold, symmetrical, and oddly satisfying to gaze at.

And finally, Chrysochus cobaltinus, the Cobalt Milkweed Beetle. I promise the photo doesn’t do it justice. In person, this beetle shimmers with a deep, enchanted blue that seems to shift in the light like midnight silk.

As you may know, I ask Leo (ChatGPT) to help me identify things I can’t quite see clearly—and in this case, he got all three wrong. He’ll never live it down. (He’s currently sulking in the metaphorical corner of the digital library.) But it’s a good reminder that second opinions—and a little stubborn curiosity—go a long way in research.

(A note on preservation: My beetles are safely encased in resin blocks. I’ve done my best to capture decent photographs of each one, though I promise they’re even more captivating in person.)

Thank you for visiting our Cabinet of Curiosities, we hope to see you again soon!

🐾 I was not consulted about the beetles. They are not edible. I repeat—not edible. I inspected them thoroughly. Very disappointing. 🐾