Headband

In Papua New Guinea, beetles are eaten as food, but the iridescent green flower beetle is so beautiful that tribes incorporate them into their ceremonial costumes. Beetle headbands and headdresses of the variety seen here originate in the Wahgi area of Mt. Hagen in the Highlands of Papua New Guinea, where they are worn for singsings (ritual performances of song and dance). The headbands are created by weaving an even row of beetles together with golden orchid stems.

Several highland groups believe that the beetle skeletons contain magic and wearing them for personal adornment at rituals, dance performances, and courtships helps the wearers seem more powerful, attractive, and successful. Elaborate headdresses of feathers, beads, and shells are often worn with the beetle headband as well as bright, colorful face and body paint.