A brooch made of living beetle

Ironclad beetles play dead when they feel threatened. And they're so good at it that, in Mexico, the living animals are often bedazzled and sold as jewelry. Jewelry that, occasionally, moves on its own. Neat! But you should not try to wear one back to the United States. (Via Greg Gbur)

Maggie Koerth-Baker is the science editor at BoingBoing.net. She writes a monthly column for The New York Times Magazine and is the author of Before the Lights Go Out, a book about electricity, infrastructure, and the future of energy. You can find Maggie on Twitter and Facebook.

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KBert

Bedazzled bugs… what will they think up next?
Seriously, though, are you s’posed to feed and water your ‘jewelry’?
And, while we’re at it; let’s come up with some catchier designs, huh?
That looks like something no-one’s worn for, like, ages.
Darrell Greenhouse

It’s very cruel to the beetle. Just look at the video: http://nemo.cbp.gov/opa/videos/2010/bville_beetle.avi. I think the woman should have been sued for being a putz!
JBarnes01

Hmm, straight out of “Nightmare Before Christmas” – Mayor had a nice live bolo tie.
http://2012diaries.blogspot.com/ tristan eldritch

That jewel encrusted beetle looks vaguely like late-period Elvis emerging sluggishly from a downers stupor.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Spitty-Sumo/100002601661770 Spitty Sumo

poor little babies. :(
rhinokitty

Ugh, rich people make me sick. Let’s think of more ways we can torture
animals and destroy the natural world as a way to conspicuously display
our wealth. Yuck.
Chrs

Having had some experience with ironclad beetles, if you’re going to choose a beetle for this they’re optimal. Extremely desert-adapted, barely need water or food for very long periods of time, and remarkably well-armored. Yes, it sucks, but would you prefer they killed them first? That’s the typical method for beetle-based jewelry.

Unnecessary, but it’s no blood diamond.
- GatoRanch
  
  “Yes, it sucks, but would you prefer they killed them first?”
  
  Uh, how about not do anything with them, but instead let them live their lives unadorned.
  
  This is horrid. Right up there with goldfish in 70s shoe heels and painted and bedazzled hermit crab shells.
Alan

I had a conversation with someone just yesterday about this. He remembers them being sold in New York City some decades ago, and that the beetles were imported from Mexico.
Antinous / Moderator

Note to self: Do not brag about live cicada hair clips on BB.
Eric Strathmeyer

Here’s an example:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eEuguCitwXY
Eric Strathmeyer

“Is it a fashion?”
“More of a tradition.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dc99lshIELE
williamftaylor

This is true. It is not new at all…back to the 70′s when it was popular.
bronwen culhane

I remember reading a magazine article about actress Tina Youthers from Family Ties at least 20 years ago. In the accompanying photo she was wearing one of these. At the time I think she was in a heavy metal band or something.