For special occasions, the Shuar people of the upper Amazon adorn themselves with elaborate ornaments crafted from materials found in the surrounding rainforest, including feathers, plant fibers, animal parts, wood, and stone. In addition to vibrant headdresses and necklaces, Shuar men wear striking ear ornaments made from the iridescent elytra (outer wing covers) of Euchroma gigantea or Chrysophora chrysoclora beetles, woven together with toucan feathers and plant fibers. These layered ear ornaments cascade down to the shoulders, symbolizing wealth, mystical power, and well-being. The Shuar are one of several Jívaroan tribes residing in Zamora, near Loja in Oriente Province on the eastern slopes of the Andes, close to the border between Peru and Ecuador.