It’s been a while since I’ve written about Cuckoo Wasps (or Cuckoo Bees, or Jewel Wasps, as they are also sometimes called). These wasps are brilliantly metallic with an exoskeleton that looks like it’s been bedazzled. I just discovered an amazing series of photos of these most lovely of insects: Note the 2mm scale in the photo. These are tiny bits of wonderful. More about Chrysids from the
Purple bugs capture our imagination with their stunning and unique coloration. While green brown, and black insects are common purple specimens are rare and eye-catching. In this article, we’ll explore 15 of the most amazing purple bugs from around the world.
What Makes Bugs Purple?
Purple coloration in insects can occur for a variety of reasons
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Pigmentation – Some bugs produce purple pigments in their exoskeletons, resulting in an overall purple hue. This is genetic and varies across species and individuals.
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Structural color – Microscopic structures on the exoskeleton can refract light to produce purple without pigments. This phenomenon depends on the angle of light reflection.
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Diet – Eating certain purple plants like berries can temporarily color the insect’s tissues. This fades over time after switching foods.
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Camouflage – Purple is rare in nature, so some species evolve a purple hue to blend in with their surroundings like purple flowers.
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Mimicry – Looking like another purple species can help avoid predators. For example, some non-toxic moths mimic the colors of toxic moths.
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Sexual dimorphism – In some species, only males are purple to attract females. The color is used for mating displays.
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Warning coloration – Vivid purple coloration in bugs like beetles can signal toxicity or bad taste to deter predators.
No matter the cause, purple insects present a visual delight for nature lovers and photographers. Now let’s look at 15 remarkable examples.
1. Nuttall’s Blister Beetle
The Nuttall’s blister beetle (Lytta nuttalli) is a native of the prairies and grasslands of the southern United States. Adults reach about an inch long and exhibit a striking purple-green iridescence on their wing covers. The amount of purple varies from a light dusting to nearly full coverage.
These solitary beetles live underground and emerge to feed on flowers and lay eggs. Their purple color likely warns predators of their ability to secrete caustic blistering agents from their joints when disturbed. Always handle with care!
2. Purple Tiger Beetle
Related to fireflies, the aptly named purple tiger beetle (Cicindela purpurea) occurs across eastern North America. They prefer open woodlands where they hunt other insects on the forest floor.
Shiny purple elytra (wing covers) flash as they scurry over logs and vegetation. Sometimes green or partially purple morphs occur too. Tiger beetle larvae are also efficient predators, waiting in burrows to ambush passing prey.
3. Purple Crow Butterfly
Native to Asia, the purple crow butterfly (Euploea tulliolus) makes epic annual migrations across tropical regions. During the summer breeding season, males congregate by the thousands on hilltop gathering sites.
When basking with open wings, the upper surfaces radiate a stunning purple iridescence. The undersides are predominantly brown with white and orange spots providing camouflage at rest.
4. Inornate Pyrausta Moth
Who said moths have to be drab and dull? The inornate pyrausta moth (Pyrausta inornatalis) breaks the mold with vivid purple hindwings. A rosy-pink band along the edges adds further visual intrigue.
Most active at night, these moths can be spotted at porch lights or sugar baits. Their range includes eastern North America from Quebec south to Florida. Flower nectar sustains the adults, while larvae feed on herbaceous plants.
5. Violet Dropwing Dragonfly
Few sights rival a violet dropwing dragonfly patrolling over a pond. Males exhibit deep violet abdomens topped with scarlet-red heads. Females have more muted brown coloration.
These tropical beauties occupy habitats in Africa, Asia, and Australia, darting over water to catch mosquitoes and other small flying insects. The prominent colors likely help males stand out to potential mates.
6. Purple Tree Tarantula
Some purple bugs inspire fear, and the purple tree tarantula is no exception. With a legspan over 5 inches, these heavy-bodied spiders deliver a nasty bite when threatened. Thankfully, they tend to be docile when handled gently.
Resting upside down on tree trunks, their mottled purple and black coloration provides camouflage in shady rainforest environments. They inhabit wooded regions of Ecuador in South America.
7. Antilles Pinktoe Tarantula
Another stunning purple arachnid is the Antilles pinktoe tarantula from the Caribbean island of Martinique. Adults exhibit velvety purple-black legs below pink-orange abdomens. When threatened, they kick urticating (irritating) hairs from their bellies and rear legs.
Primarily arboreal, these spiders construct silk retreats in tree hollows and build funnel webs to capture prey like insects, frogs, lizards, and even birds! Their unique beauty makes them popular display animals.
8. Crab Spiders
The crab spider family (Thomisidae) contains many purple species with the ability to change color. Sit-and-wait predators, they often match the flower upon which they hunt by shifting their purple pigments.
Pink, white, yellow, purple – they come in almost every color imaginable! These ingenious camouflage artists dispatch unwary pollinators with a swift ambush attack. Around 1090 diverse species exist worldwide.
9. Purple Ground Beetle
The purple ground beetle (Dicaelus purpuratus) makes its home in moist woodlands across eastern North America. Metallic violet elytra help differentiate them from the more common bronze-green beetles.
Preying on earthworms, snails, and other small invertebrates, their large sickle-shaped mandibles make quick work of captured victims. If threatened, they can spray formic acid from their abdomens in defense.
10. Shining Leaf Beetle
Shining leaf beetles (Ophraella communa) exhibit spectacular iridescence ranging from red to purple to green. Native to North America, they can skeletonize populations of ragweed, which is a notorious allergen for humans.
Females lay yellow eggs on the underside of ragweed leaves in clusters of 25-60. Larvae and adults then devour the foliage over a few weeks before pupating in the soil. Nature’s pest control!
11. Florida Purplewing Butterfly
The Florida purplewing (Eunica tatila) flutters across subtropical pinelands and hardwood hammocks in southern Florida and the Caribbean. Males perch in patches of sunlight where their purple upperwing surfaces are most brilliant.
Females lack purple coloration and exhibit more drab brown patterning with white spots on the forewings. Larval host plants include mahogany, torchwood, and mangrove species.
12. Purple Ground Cricket
Ranging from New England to Florida, the purple ground cricket (Allonemobius fasciatus) puts on nightly concerts with its high-pitched trilling song. Specimens can exhibit variable amounts of purple on the head, pronotum, legs, and antennae.
They inhabit sandy areas with scrubby vegetation, often at the edges of paths, roads, and gardens. A mainly granivorous species, they readily consume seeds of native and cultivated plants.
13. Meadow Grasshopper
Grasshoppers come in a staggering variety, including purple! The meadow grasshopper (Pseudochorthippus parallelus) sports hues from green to yellow to purple. Coloration can be highly variable even within the same population.
These hoppers thrive in grasslands and meadows across Europe and Asia. Herbivorous nymphs and adults feed on grasses, herbs, and other vegetation. Look for them displaying or taking short flights on warm summer days.
14. Elegant Stink Bug
Stunning coloration warns predators to stay away from the elegant stink bug (Aelia acuminata). The shiny surface is deep violet with a thin yellow-orange edge. When threatened, they emit a foul volatile chemical spray.
A European native, these bugs feed on the developing seeds and stems of crop plants like wheat, oats, and corn. With the rise of global trade, they’ve become more prevalent across North America.
15. Blue Glassy Tiger Moth
Lastly, the blue glassy tiger moth (Nyctemera amicus) epitomizes exotic purple elegance. Iridescent blue and purple wings shimmer with an ever-changing interplay of color. The caterpillar shows similar vivid hues.
Found from India to Australia, their range extends into southern Asia’s tropical and subtropical forests. Powerful jaws allow the larva to bore into woody saplings and tree ferns to devour vegetation.
Final Thoughts
The rarity and mystery of purple make it one of the most attention-grabbing colors in nature. As we’ve seen, a diversity of insects showcase purple hues for camouflage, mimicry, warning, thermoregulation, and mating success.
Purple bugs remind us to slow down and appreciate the small wonders under our feet. Keep an eye out and you might just spot one of these jewel-toned creatures on your next hike through a meadow, forest, or backyard!
Posted by Gwen Pearson
Entomologist. Educator. Writer. NERD.
PURPLE BUGS – NOVACULA (VIDEOCLIP)
FAQ
Which insect is purple?
Purple beetle
The purple beetles too are a sight to behold.
What are the tiny burgundy bugs in my house?
Clover mites are extremely small and difficult to see with the naked eye, often requiring a magnifying glass to get a good look at them. They are bright red in color and may appear as tiny moving dots on windowsills, walls, or near house plants.
Do bed bugs turn purple?
On black or brown skin, bed bugs may look purple and may be harder to see.
Can pill bugs be purple?
If you find a pill bug that looks bright blue or purple, it’s a sign of an iridovirus. Reflected light from the virus causes the cyan color.
What is a purple bug?
Another species of purple bug that looks justified is its name. Introducing the Purple tiger beetle, a species that mastered poking its head out when it experiences any kind of threat. This species shows purple color when seen at a particular angle.
Where are purple bugs commonly found?
Purple bugs are often found in North America, particularly in the Southern and Eastern states. Purple color can be natural to bugs regardless of their environment.
Can purple bugs be naturally colored?
Purple color can be natural to bugs, regardless of their environment. It can also be a purposeful appearance change in species such as spiders which may take on purple coloring when hunting purple flowers. Purple bugs are often found in North America, particularly in the Southern and Eastern states.
What do purple bugs look like?
The formulated purple bugs are small in size but give a threatening look. You will find this species equipped with hairy legs that look like a robot. Although this species is harmless to humans, its terrifying visuals will make you scared to touch it once.
What is a purple shield bug?
Purple shield bug is a unique species that comprises a shield structure figure on its back. They are unique as they possess antennae like every other insect. Black and white colored bands are also visible on the body of the bug. Also, for creepy texture, this bug has hairs on the body and legs.
Do purple ladybugs exist?
There are no officially reported findings by Entomologists or other authoritative bodies that purple ladybugs have been discovered. All the signs indicate that Purple Ladybugs do not exist. Investigations into reports on the internet indicate these Ladybugs do not exist… but maybe just not yet!