those who has ever encountered  any beetle  know that  usually elytra is colorful - huge variety of tones and patterns. in fact, it has been used by humans for all sorts of decoration purposes such as textile fabric embellishments, all sorts of appliques or mosaics, some other ornaments.

word "elytra" stands for the hard chitinous surface of beetles back - more technically, it is "exosceleton wings". that's right, it can be called simply wings - because in fact these are wings. most of insects have 4 wings. beetles, unlike some other insects, have only 2 functioning membranous wings used to fly. other 2 upper wings has changed - hardened  - and became sort of protection for the lower pair of wings.

especially in tropical countries, many insects also being used for food (oh, that's another HUUUUGE subject for discussion!). apparently, nutrition content of insects is no less than animal flesh. there has been scientific studies conducted and statistical reports are available.

due to their nutrition value, many beetles are harvested in plenty all over South East Asia (still called Indochina sometimes): Laos, Vietnam, Myanmar (Burma), Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Cambodia, South regions of China, Eastern provinces of Bangladesh and Indian states, Phillipins, Korea and Taiwan.

so, once beetles are eaten up, their hard parts as elytra (upper wings), pronotum ("necks") and heads are discarded as uneatable. and of course, humans are too clever and practical to through away something beautiful  - animals' skins, furs, wool, bones, hair, feathers, all imaginable parts has been used since times immemorial. I mean - humans even had purposely hunted many of animals just only for their particular parts - often till very extermination of some species. what to speak of omething as useful and beautiful as elytra! of course it is carefully collected and used or sold out.


Therefore, all sorts of simple trivial decorations as well as elaborate masterpieces has been made in all different cultures, epochs, ethnicities or groups. many wonderful art creations has been inspired by beetles elytra.