Live insect jewelry refers to jewelry, made from living creatures- usually bejeweled, large insects- which is worn as a fashion accessory. The use of insects as live jewelry has existed for many centuries, with the Egyptians believed to have been the first to have worn insects as jewelry. Ancient Egyptian soldiers commonly wore scarab beetles into battle as the beetles were considered to have supernatural powers of protection against enemies.
Although live jewelry has featured in Mayan cultural traditions for many centuries, it was not until the 1980s that the Mexican Maquech Beetle, a sub-species of the Zopherus beetle, achieved mainstream popularity as live jewelry. The Maquech Beetle is a large, docile, wingless insect which is decorated with gold and semi-precious gemstones and is attached to a decorative safety pin by a chain leash.
During the Mayan period, women from the Yucatán Peninsula wore Maquech Beetles pinned to their chests, over their hearts, to attract and sustain loving relationships. The tradition is attributed to a story from Mayan folklore, which believes that when a Mayan princess was not permitted to marry a prince from a rival clan whom she loved, she stopped eating and drinking, preferring to die than to live without her lover. In compassion with her plight, a traditional healer with magical powers transformed her into a Maquech beetle, so that she could spend the rest of her life living as a beautiful brooch on the chest of her lover, close to his heart.
A live bejeweled Mexican Maquech Beetle can trade for as much as $500USD, although importation of the beetle into the United States is outlawed. In 2006, the Giant Madagascar hissing cockroach (or Gromphadorhina portentosa) achieved high profile, short-lived popularity as live jewelry. Fashion designer, Jared Gold, popularized the ‘roach brooch’ trend with the inclusion of the Giant Madagascar Hissing Cockroach in his 2006 collection. Gold’s cockroaches were hand-decorated with Swarovski crystals, accessorized with a leash set and were sold as ‘ready to wear’ jewelry. ‘Roach brooches’ have subsequently been worn by celebrities including Kim Kardashian, Uma Thurman, and Carmen Electra.
A number of animal rights groups have expressed concern over the use of live jewelry, stating that it is exploitative to the creatures as they ‘have a similar capacity to feel pain as other more mainstream pets.’ A 2006, a ‘New York Post’ story quoted an animal rights spokesman as describing the ‘roach brooch’ as ‘just the gift for the person who doesn’t mind a small animal excreting on them throughout the day.’ PETA spokesperson Michael McGraw was quoted as saying that the product ‘Gives a new, sad meaning to the term ‘fashion victim.’ Roaches will inherit the Earth, and if it’s between the desperate people who wear them and the roaches, our money’s on the roaches.’
However, proponents of live jewelry have stated that as the wearing of live jewelry is a traditional practice among indigenous groups in the Yucatan, the practice would be difficult to cease. Similarly, companies selling live jewelry have stated that with proper care (including storing the insect in a well-heated vivarium) and adequate feeding, many insects used as live jewelry can expect to achieve – or exceed- the average 2-3 year life-span of an insect living in a natural environment.
The Daily Omnivore 
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