Author Archives: swarm

That May Shrill

Posted on July 26, 2011 by swarm

Though I’m missing out on Brood XIX, I am pleased that somewhere on the wide internets has a scan of my favorite toy, or rather, my favorite garbled translation of an insect-themed toy: I had several of these for years, … Continue reading →

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Time out for Chewing Lice!

Posted on July 19, 2011 by swarm

Several plates from “Das Buch Der Welt”, an 1845 tome by Carl Hofmann. The context-free plates were found here, along with other pretty butterflies and beetles. I am of course fondest of the plate depicting several Mallophaga, or chewing lice.  … Continue reading →

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House Beautiful

Posted on July 13, 2011 by swarm

For July 4th I went adventuring with friends in Mendocino, CA, where late rains have kept things green well into Summer. On a hike in Van Damme State Park, we stopped by a bridge to watch for fish, birds, and … Continue reading →

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“Blinded to Small Beauty”

Posted on July 8, 2011 by swarm

The Oreo Cameos of Judith Klausner recently made the rounds on the internet, but lesser known are her sculptures using insect parts. They are a flip side to her fast-food craftworks, giving an added dimension to her motives beyond the … Continue reading →

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Stridulation Friday

Posted on July 8, 2011 by swarm

Happy Friday again! A week of camping and being out-of-doors makes for slow posting. But here’s a wonderful insect-filled and energetic tune thanks to Psapp, called “Mister Ant”. http://youtu.be/dfmyh0wnswk Tin cans and grapevines Growing at our door The bustling ants … Continue reading →

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Stridulation Friday

Posted on June 24, 2011 by swarm

Happy Friday! Time to rock out with your cerambycid boyfriend, and watch out for evil acupuncturists! Sadly no embedding for this video, but go clicky. “Pin” by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. directed by Tunde Adebimpe of TV On The Radio … Continue reading →

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Manuscript Call for Insects and Art

Posted on June 22, 2011 by swarm

While I love it when artists talk about science, I really enjoy scientists talking (and publishing)  about art:  Bug Girl has the scoop on an open-access scientific journal called Insects that will have an entire issue edited by Jennifer Angus, … Continue reading →

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Franciszek Starowieyski

Posted on June 20, 2011 by swarm

Haunting poster of the 1966 film Mademoiselle by polish artist Franciszek Starowieyski. As far as I can tell there are no insects in this film, though there is plenty of sex and death.

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The Hidden Treasures of Elizabeth Goluch

Posted on June 17, 2011 by swarm

Elizabeth Goluch is a metalsmith from Halifax, Nova Scotia. Her gallery contains (frustratingly small) images of well-loved, despised, and under-appreciated invertebrates wrought in precious metals and gemstones.  Goluch’s insects have working hinges, and each holds within them a tiny treasure, … Continue reading →

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The Insect Play

Posted on June 15, 2011 by swarm

Written in 1921 by the Karel and Josef Čapek, The Insect Play (Ze života hmyzu) Is a masterful fantastic farce in which an inebriated drifter, disgusted with humanity, wanders into the forest, and observes the lives of the insects around … Continue reading →

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