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NIKOLA RAHMÉ

The thick hair of this female ladybird spider (Eresus hermani), which covers even its multipurpose appendages known as palps, is water-resistant.

A nut weevil’s (Curculio nucum) elbowed antennae can fold into grooves in its snout. Weevils bore holes in plants to lay their eggs.

To the naked eye, this green immigrant leaf weevil (Polydrusus formosus) appears to have a green cuticle. A closer look reveals that dense, chitinous scales give it colour.

The multipurpose appendage of a jewel beetle has chitinous armour in the form of its spurs and claws.

The feathery antennae of a red click beetle (Anostirus purpureus) are made of the flexible form of chitin.

A hornet’s compound eye is made up of thousands of lenses composed of chitin.

The chitinous scales of this butterfly’s wings (Chrysiridia) form gratings that create metallic colours.

The shiny chitinous armour of this pseudoscorpion known as scissorhands (Neobisium sp.) hides a tiny insectivore. This animal appears frightening, but unlike true scorpions, its stinger is not poisonous.

It’s a mystery how the cuticle of the jewel beetle (Anthaxia croesus) gets its dazzling colour. Proteins likely bonded with chitin to produce the hues. Most of these photos were made with a microscope lens. Dozens of photos were stitched together to create a single composite image, revealing the subject's minute details in sharp focus.

In the metallic wood-boring beetle (Eurythyrea quercus), its iridescent wing casing and abdomen contain chitin, a substance that provides armour-like protection.