The photo below is of my latest creation: “Cadis fly” - a sculpture that was born when I found the two beautiful curling pieces of metal from an old hay rake in a cow pasture. I loved their arc and symmetry, and wanted to make something worthy of their unique perfection.
In case you’ve never heard of a Cadis fly, it is a wonder of nature. They are small moth-like insects with two pairs of wings. One of the most interesting characteristics of the cadis fly is the ornate and highly intricate protective cases they build as larvae.
The insects mid-life stage is a worm (larval form) that lives in streams and ponds and creates it’s own shelter/camouflage by sticking together tiny stones and flotsam from the bottom. They create something that looks like a little armored cocoon, with an opening at one end for their head and legs to poke out of when danger is not around. I loved making this homage to a little known natural wonder.
Different species of cadis fly use different materials for their protective cases making the variety quite diverse. Some artists have even cultivated their own caddis flies and provided them with building materials like gold and pearls to create ornate protective cases that are preserved for their artistic merit after the cadis fly has undergone metamorphosis.
This insect needs to be studied for the remarkable substance that binds its protective armor together while in the larva stage. The adult stage of this remarkable bug is essential to the life and health of most streams that run swift and clear, and contain rainbow trout.
Via: https://thefeatherbender.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/e6d0112_2.jpg
I will keep this creature’s genius on my “to do” list, for when I eventually study the remarkable new science of Biomimicry someday