midsummer

This is a wood-carved jewel beetle (Chrysochroa fulgidissima).
The material is Japanese cypress, and it is colored with acrylic paint.
The size is approximately 10 cm in height, 6.5 (4.5) cm in width, and 6 (4.3) cm in depth (the numbers in parentheses indicate the size of the main body alone with parts removed).

It is a beautiful insect, whose name translates to "jewel (jade) beetle."
Seeing a mass of that size slowly circling in a vertical position against a deep blue midsummer sky, shimmering and glistening, is quite mystical—it makes you feel as though you've caught a glimpse of an alien, a UFO, or perhaps even a god.
Reflecting on how I created several insects last summer inspired by the saying "Summer insects know not of ice," I began to wonder about the jewel beetle, a quintessential midsummer insect.
Though jewel beetles are creatures of midsummer, they spend three to five years as larvae inside rotting wood, so I suspect they are quite familiar with winter. As for whether they know ice, I imagine they do, as decaying wood often freezes.
I have even heard that other species of jewel beetles can adapt to temperatures as low as -50°C, so perhaps insects are more familiar with ice than we think.

Points to note when purchasing

To prevent damage during transit, the item is shipped unassembled (please see the second image; this is how it will be shipped). Please assemble the parts upon arrival and secure them with wood glue.
In principle, we do not accept returns or exchanges due to customer convenience.
You may notice minor scratches or slight distortions, which are characteristics of handmade items.
The color and atmosphere may appear different depending on your device or lighting conditions.
As the material is wood, it may crack due to repeated moisture absorption and drying. We recommend storing it in a location with minimal humidity fluctuations. In particular, avoid areas in direct sunlight or near air conditioner vents, as this can accelerate the deterioration of the wood.
Please feel free to ask any questions before purchasing, as there are some requests we cannot accommodate after a purchase is made.
Since shipping is performed on weekends and holidays, please note that it may take some time to process your order depending on when it is placed. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.