The cabbage beetle (Colaphellus pulchellus) is a visually striking, metallic leaf beetle belonging to the diverse leaf beetle family (Chrysomelidae). Native to the Mediterranean basin and North Africa, this shimmering insect feeds on plants within the Brassicaceae (cabbage and mustard) family. It has earned a particularly notorious reputation among local farmers for its ability to quickly devastate cauliflower crops, making it a highly scrutinized agricultural pest throughout its native and introduced ranges. I crossed paths with this brilliant little beetle while visiting a friend in Beja, Tunisia, where I spotted it basking in the intense Mediterranean sun on the trunk of a tree. From a photographer’s perspective, capturing a highly reflective, metallic subject under harsh, direct sunlight is a notorious challenge.