Scarab 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 concluding our tour of my beetle collection with my favourite beetle family: the scarabs.

Scarabs are among the most iconic beetles in the world and are deeply associated with Ancient Egypt—though their story stretches far beyond that. I’ll be writing a dedicated post on their mythic and cultural significance in the future. For now, let’s meet the three scarabs in my collection.

This shimmering little one has eluded identification for now. While it appears pinkish in the photograph, it has a beautiful coppery tone in person—subtle and warm like burnished treasure.

Here we have the dazzling Chrysina quetzalcoatli, also known as the Jewel Scarab. Yes, that Quetzalcoatl—as in the feathered serpent deity. This beetle truly lives up to the name with its otherworldly shine.

Another mystery beetle, this time in brilliant blue. I haven’t been able to confirm the species yet, but isn’t it breathtaking?

Better quality photos would certainly help with the identification process, and that’s something I’ll be working on going forward. For now, I’m simply glad to share their beauty with you.

(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 proposed naming the blue one Sir Shimmers-a-Lot, but Signa vetoed it. Democracy is dead. Send snacks. 🐾