ZooWeird 34

A doggerel series about odd or little-known animals.

The beautiful golden tortoise beetle (Charidotella sexpunctata) may not be completely transparent; however, it does feature a carapace that is nearly invisible. Adults are 5 to 7 mm long and have a variable color, ranging from orange to gold and often metallic—hence, the nickname “goldbug.” The external margins are expanded and lack pigmentation, becoming nearly transparent. (All animal info from http://www.strangeanimals.info/2015/04/10-weirdest-transparent-animals.html#ixzz4URDzWtl4)

She found a golden beetle in

The silver mug beside her bed—

Her emerald bed. “It’s not a sin,”

She told herself, “or, so it’s said,

“To have these many splendid things,

Like ruby necklaces and such—

And several score of diamond rings.

It really isn’t all that much!”

And from that silver mug she drank

That golden beetle, who was not

A really healthful thing. A prank

That earned a cemetery plot.

(For her.)