Mosquitoes are pesky insects, can carry dangerous diseases, and leave us itching like mad. Many of us wonder at some point, what exactly is their purpose? But it was one of these insects that made one woman question a painting that she’d been seeing most of her life.

The woman had inherited a painting from her grandmother, and inside the painting behind the glass was a mosquito that was stuck to the painting. It bothered her enough that she decided to remove the glass so she can flick the mosquito away.

However, as soon as she touched the canvas she had a feeling that the mosquito might be telling her something about the painting. So when the show, Antique Roadshow came to her town, she decided to take it with her to have it looked at.

She met with a master appraiser named Meredith Hilferty who was immediately intrigued by the story of the mosquito. The artist of the painting was French-born Henry Francosi Farney who had moved to Pennsylvania as a six-year-old child.

The artwork depicted a group of Sioux Indians riding on horseback and had been given to her grandmother when she was just 19-years-old. It had hung over her bed until the day she passed away. The woman assumed that it was a cheap reprint based on two other appraisals that she received. Previous appraisers have told her it might be worth around $200. But Meredith told the young woman they were wrong.

H.F. Farney’s paintings are highly sought after because of his peaceful portrayals of Native Americans. When Meredith finally revealed the true value of the painting, the woman couldn’t believe what she was hearing.

Meredith advised the woman to have a conservator professional remove the mosquito, or continue to let it decay. But had it not been for the mosquito she never would have realized that her painting was not a replica.

Check out the video below to see just how much this painting is worth and be sure to share it with your family and friends.