Phasmidelia

Phasmidelia
40" x 22" x 2"
Reclaimed wood and mixed media objects
2025

The seed-like appearance of phasmid eggs serves as a form of camouflage, allowing them to blend into their environment and evade predation. With over 3,000 species of these insects worldwide, their appearance can even mimic the seeds of local plants, enhancing their survival and dispersal. Researchers have found that these eggs are coated in calcium, enabling them to pass through the digestive tracts of birds unharmed, which preserves their ability to hatch. This suggests that birds play a role in dispersing stick insect eggs, similar to how they disperse plant seeds.

My wall installation of 65 elements was inspired by a photograph of a collection of pinned phasmid egg specimens. Thinking about species survival through adaptation, I created these small sculptures from numerous pieces of reclaimed hardwoods and altered found objects such as colored pencils, abrasive wheels, brushes, sewing pins and the tip of a drum stick.

photos by Mario Gallucci