AJ Courtney- Hoplia coerulea

Hoplia beetles belong to the scarab family. This little guy in particular, hoplia coerulea, is native to Southern Europe and likes to live near water. The brilliant blue color comes from the microstructures within its exoskeleton, that scatter blue light in a similar way to how light refracts off of a bubble. I first encountered one when visiting family in northern Spain, and the iridescence was so ethereal that we all regarded it as a sure sign of good luck. I think we could all use a bit of iridescence, etherealness, and good luck, so I put the carapace to canvas.

4" x 4"

50% of the proceeds of this piece will be donated to Xerces Society to support their conservation efforts. To Learn more about their work please visit www.xerces.org

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