Golden Ladybug

I have a wild sunflower growing in my backyard, and on the leaf I saw what looked like a gold nugget. Sure enough, it was a ladybug with an astonishing gold color shell

I’ve seen gray ladybugs but never a golden one

So I trapped it in my hands and took it in my house to place it in a jar so I could photograph it. But as soon as I opened my hands, it flew onto the ceiling. My ceiling is 14ft so I couldn’t reach it. A zoomed photo with my cell phone was the best I could get before it flew away in my home where I lost it. The photo does no justice to how awesome this bug looked. I told my roommate later and he couldn’t find it either.

 

Must be lucky.

 

We've got hoards of em here on the farm. They especially dig our bean plants

 

this reminds me of something i would kill in a video game, and be rewarded with a lot more money than any other monsters give out.

 

Don't worry... You'll find it when it lands on your nostril hairs while you're sleeping.

 

They’ve always been considered good luck because in their larval state they can consume hundreds of aphids before it turns into an adult.

 

I think you might be right. The spotty texture gave the golden bug I found a very sparkly appearance.

From your source:
The golden tortoise beetle is distributed widely in eastern
North America, west to about Iowa and Texas. It is one of
three species of tortoise beetle found in Florida.

I'm way further west than Iowa and Texas. Near the coast line. This is one lost bug for sure. That'd explain why I've never seen one.

 

it's beautiful. can even see it shining in your photo.