While butterflies and exotic beetles dominate the spotlight, countless spectacular insects remain criminally underappreciated by collectors and enthusiasts. From iridescent jewel beetles to architectural stick insects, these underrated species offer extraordinary beauty, fascinating biology, and stunning display potential—yet they're often overlooked in favor of more famous cousins.
The Top Underrated Insects
1. Jewel Beetles (Buprestidae)
Why they're underrated: Overshadowed by butterflies despite having equally stunning colors.
What makes them special:
- Metallic, iridescent colors that never fade (structural coloration)
- Over 15,000 species worldwide with incredible diversity
- Colors range from emerald green to ruby red to sapphire blue
- Intricate patterns and textures on their elytra
- Extremely durable—perfect for long-term display
- Some species were used as living jewelry in ancient cultures
Display potential: Exceptional. Their permanent metallic sheen makes them ideal for framing and cabinet displays.
2. Stick Insects (Phasmatodea)
Why they're underrated: Perceived as plain brown insects rather than architectural marvels.
What makes them special:
- Masters of camouflage with incredible body modifications
- Some species reach 12+ inches in length
- Leaf insects (Phylliidae) are virtually indistinguishable from foliage
- Spiny species like Extatosoma have dramatic, sculptural forms
- Fascinating biology—many reproduce without males (parthenogenesis)
- Create striking, conversation-starting displays
Display potential: Excellent for dramatic, sculptural presentations in shadow boxes.
3. Longhorn Beetles (Cerambycidae)
Why they're underrated: Overlooked in favor of scarabs and stag beetles.
What makes them special:
- Extraordinarily long antennae (often 2-3x body length)
- Over 35,000 species with incredible variety
- Beautiful patterns, colors, and textures
- Titan beetle reaches 6.5 inches—one of the largest insects
- Harlequin beetle has stunning orange, black, and yellow patterns
- Elegant, graceful appearance
Display potential: Outstanding—the long antennae create dramatic visual impact.
4. Cicadas
Why they're underrated: Known for noise rather than beauty.
What makes them special:
- Transparent, delicately veined wings like stained glass
- Incredible lifecycle—some species emerge only every 17 years
- Large size (up to 3 inches) makes impressive specimens
- Intricate wing patterns and body structures
- Some tropical species have vibrant green or blue coloration
- Cultural significance in many societies
Display potential: Very good—wings create ethereal, delicate displays.
5. Assassin Bugs (Reduviidae)
Why they're underrated: Reputation as predators overshadows their appearance.
What makes them special:
- Dramatic, alien-like body shapes
- Wheel bug has distinctive cogwheel crest on thorax
- Bold colors—reds, oranges, blacks in striking patterns
- Fascinating predatory adaptations
- Over 7,000 species with incredible diversity
- Sculptural quality perfect for natural history displays
Display potential: Good—unique forms create interesting focal points.
6. Mantisflies (Mantispidae)
Why they're underrated: Rare in collections and little-known to the public.
What makes them special:
- Incredible convergent evolution—look like tiny praying mantises with lacewing wings
- Delicate, transparent wings with intricate venation
- Raptorial forelegs like mantids despite being neuropterans
- Unusual and conversation-starting
- Demonstrate fascinating evolutionary principles
Display potential: Excellent for educational and curiosity-focused collections.
7. Flower Beetles (Cetoniinae)
Why they're underrated: Overshadowed by scarabs and stag beetles.
What makes them special:
- Vibrant, often metallic colors—greens, golds, purples
- Fuzzy, velvety textures on some species
- Goliath beetles are among the heaviest insects on Earth
- Beautiful patterns and color combinations
- Active during day, feeding on flowers and fruit
- Diverse sizes from thumbnail to palm-sized
Display potential: Exceptional—colors and size create stunning displays.
8. Lanternflies (Fulgoridae)
Why they're underrated: Confused with true flies; little-known outside entomology.
What makes them special:
- Bizarre head projections (cephalic processes) in many species
- Peanut-headed bug has enormous hollow snout
- Brilliant underwing colors hidden until spread
- Eye-spots and cryptic patterns
- Unique among hemipterans for display potential
- Cultural significance in tropical regions
Display potential: Very good—unusual forms create memorable displays.
9. Net-Winged Beetles (Lycidae)
Why they're underrated: Small size leads to being overlooked.
What makes them special:
- Brilliant red, orange, or yellow warning coloration
- Soft, leathery wing covers with distinctive net-like texture
- Elegant, elongated body shapes
- Often mimic fireflies or other toxic insects
- Beautiful when properly displayed
Display potential: Good—vibrant colors stand out in collections.
10. Katydids (Tettigoniidae)
Why they're underrated: Seen as common grasshopper relatives.
What makes them special:
- Incredible leaf mimicry in many species
- Some species are bright pink, blue, or multicolored
- Elaborate wing patterns and textures
- Long, elegant antennae
- Diverse forms from spiny to smooth
- Create naturalistic, botanical-style displays
Display potential: Good to excellent depending on species and preparation.
Why These Insects Deserve More Attention
Permanent Colors
Many underrated insects like jewel beetles have structural coloration that never fades, unlike some butterfly pigments. This makes them superior for long-term display.
Unique Forms
Stick insects, mantisflies, and lanternflies offer sculptural qualities and bizarre adaptations that create conversation-starting displays.
Durability
Beetles and true bugs generally have harder exoskeletons than butterflies, making them easier to preserve and more resistant to damage.
Educational Value
These insects demonstrate fascinating evolutionary adaptations, ecological roles, and biological diversity beyond the familiar butterfly narrative.
Availability
Many underrated species are more abundant and ethically sourceable than rare butterflies, making them sustainable collection choices.
Building a Collection Beyond Butterflies
Thematic Approaches
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Metallic insects: Jewel beetles, flower beetles, tiger beetles
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Masters of disguise: Stick insects, leaf insects, katydids
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Architectural forms: Longhorn beetles, mantisflies, assassin bugs
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Living jewels: Colorful beetles and bugs that rival butterflies
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Oddities and curiosities: Lanternflies, wheel bugs, unusual adaptations
Display Strategies
- Mix beetles with butterflies for color and texture contrast
- Create shadow boxes showcasing stick insect camouflage
- Arrange jewel beetles in gradient patterns by color
- Pair specimens with botanical elements for context
- Use backlighting to highlight transparent wings
The Case for Diversity
While butterflies are undeniably beautiful, limiting collections to Lepidoptera means missing out on:
- Over 90% of insect diversity
- Permanent, non-fading colors
- Unique forms and adaptations
- More sustainable and available species
- Greater educational and conversational value
- Distinctive, memorable displays
Ethical Sourcing of Underrated Species
Many underrated insects are:
- More abundant than rare butterflies
- Easier to farm sustainably
- Not subject to CITES restrictions
- Available from conservation breeding programs
- Collected as agricultural byproducts
This makes them excellent choices for ethical, sustainable collections.
Discover Underappreciated Beauty
Our collection celebrates the full diversity of the insect world, featuring not only spectacular butterflies but also stunning jewel beetles, dramatic stick insects, and other underrated species that deserve a place in your natural history display. Each specimen is ethically sourced and professionally prepared to museum standards.
Explore Beyond Butterflies
