Jewelry Keeps Bugs Away

E D I N A, Minn., Sept. 2 -- Soldiers in ancient Egypt wore scarabbeetles into battle, hoping the magical powers of the dung beetleswould protect them.

Today, the scarab is still a popular jewelry motif, along withdragonflies, butterflies and other insects.

But Jill Johnson has taken the idea back to its roots.

Jilco Inc., Johnson’s 10-year-old wholesale jewelry importingand manufacturing company, has created a line of sterling silverjewelry — some in bug designs — to provide natural protection frominsect bites without lotions or sprays touching the skin.

Citronella, Lemongrass and Mint

The Bugs-B-Wear earrings, necklaces, pins and ankle braceletscontain a filter that absorbs a repellent mixture containing 100percent essential oils of citronella, mint and lemongrass mixedwith sesame oil.

The repellent, put into the jewelry with a curved dropper, isintended to provide hours of protection against mosquitoes,no-see-ums, stinging flies and other annoying insects.

Insects are attracted to body warmth, odor, moisture and carbondioxide emissions in a person’s breath, Johnson said. The repellentworks by creating an aroma shield that interferes with a bug’sability to locate its target.

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Jewelry worn near the neck or head should protect the upper halfof the body, she said.

In a test, a Bugs-B-Wear dragonfly pin worn on a collar keptmost bugs off the head and neck during 90 minutes of sweaty gardenwork at dusk — prime bug time — but one pest permeated the shieldand left a nasty sting on the gardener’s ear. In a similar test,Cutter Skinsations, a non-greasy, fresh-scented repellent with aloeand Vitamin E, was 100 percent effective when sprayed on exposedskin.

“The thing about Bugs-B-Wear that’s so exciting is that itdoesn’t touch your skin,” Johnson said.

“When you go to a barbecue, you’re dressed up to go to a party.You don’t want to spray yourself with insect repellent,” she said.“The jewelry is attractive and you can easily take it off. Youdon’t have to come home and shower afterward.”