Living brooch

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
El makech

A living brooch, also known as a ma'kech, makech, and maquech, is a brooch made from a living beetle of the genus Zopherus (one of the three genera of ironclad beetle), particularly the species Zopherus chilensis. The brooches are decorated with paste gemstones, bric-à-brac, and imitation gold, and are tethered to a woman's blouse by a small chain. Such brooches have traditionally been made in the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico as objects of personal adornment. They do not move quickly, are very hardy, and are capable of living for over a month without food or water.[1][2][3]

References[]

  1. ^ Ross H. Arnett, JR; Michael C. Thomas; Paul E. Skelley; J. Howard Frank (19 June 2002). American Beetles, Volume II: Polyphaga: Scarabaeoidea through Curculionoidea. CRC Press. p. 458. ISBN 978-1-4200-4123-1.
  2. ^ Vincent H. Resh; Ring T. Cardé (22 July 2009). Encyclopedia of Insects. Academic Press. p. 242. ISBN 978-0-08-092090-0.
  3. ^ "Meet the Makech, the Bedazzled Beetles Worn as Living Jewelry | At the Smithsonian | Smithsonian Magazine".
Retrieved from ""