Lamprosoma is a genus of tiny, dome-shaped leaf beetles (family: Chrysomelidae) that measure well under a centimeter in length. Often called living Christmas ornaments due to their striking metallic coloration, these beetles possess a brilliant defense mechanism. When threatened, a Lamprosoma beetle tucks in its stubby legs and pulls in its head, transforming into a hard, impenetrable, shiny sphere. In this form, it can effortlessly blend in as an unappealing animal dropping or simply roll away if touched. Once danger passes, it unfurls and walks away. Interestingly, beetles from the subfamily Lamprosomatinae also protect their offspring using distinctive fecal “cases.” The female coats each egg in a layer of excrement, which the hatched larvae retain and expand throughout their larval life as camouflage. I lucked out and spotted this iridescent leaf beetle on two separate occasions in the Ecuadorian rainforest in December 2023 and July 2025. I tried to photograph it from every possible angle, though its perfectly spherical shape made capturing sharp body details a wonderful macro challenge!