Trilobite Beetle
(Varies by Species)

Found in the tropical rainforests of South and Southeast Asia, the Trilobite Beetle is one of the most visually striking insects in the world — but only the female looks the way it does. Her body is covered in overlapping armored plates with spine-edged ridges, forming a helmet-like shield over the head.

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This heavily armored, larva-like appearance is retained throughout her entire adult life, a phenomenon called neoteny, while the male is a comparatively tiny, winged beetle. The size difference between the two is up to twelvefold. The two look so different that they were originally described as entirely separate species!