Flashy Blue/Green Jewel Beetle Wings Necklace and Earring set in Sterling Silver.
Beetle wings are the wings of the insect belonging to the genus Sternocera which is called malaeng thap in Thai. The beetle wings are very beautiful because they have an iridescent green and bluish surface. Hence, the beetle wings shine like emeralds and thus, this kind of beetle is also called 'jewel beetle'.
The Jewel Beetles that make these earrings were not bred in captivity and are ethically sourced. The Jewel Beetle is a wood boring beetle that live in the forests of Thailand. There they can spend as much as 2-3 years living in rotting foliage and trees. When they emerge from the trees they have transformed into a flying beetle. They then mate and lay eggs in trees to continue the life cycle. Once they have laid their eggs they die. These beetles are then collected from the forest floor by local people as a food source. The beetles are eaten, and the wings are simply a biproduct of a natural occurring food source. The wings are surprisingly durable, with a similar strength to a fingernail.
The earrings are 1 1/8" long from the top of the ear wire and 7/16" wide.
The Necklace is 20" long.
