Sceloenopla is a diverse Neotropical genus of leaf beetles (family Chrysomelidae) comprising over 140 described species, several of which are native to Ecuador. They belong to a group often referred to as tortoise beetles due to the flattened, reinforced margins on their wing covers (elytra). They are also known as leaf miners because of the larvae’s unique feeding habits. Upon hatching, the larvae burrow into a host leaf, eating the inner tissue while leaving the protective outer layers intact. This tunneling behavior creates visible squiggly trails or blotches, giving the impression that the insect is “mining” the plant. I encountered this fascinating individual in Yasuní National Park during my very first photography excursion into the Amazon rainforest.