Insects in Art and Human Culture

Question 1

Why are insects such an integral part of human history and culture?

Answer 1

1. Beauty and diversity
2. Metamorphosis
3. Behaviors
4. Defenses
5. Appearance consistent with symbols or superstitions
6. Benefits

Question 2

Cicadas, Crickets, and other Singers

Answer 2

1. Metamorphosis and behavior (yearly cycles, singing)
   -Life, death, and rebirth
2. Symbols of rebirth, reincarnation and immortality
3. Gold cicadas: symbols of luck and status
4. Creation stories in multiple cultures
   -The humpbacked flute player of the Dine

Question 3

Why beetles?

Answer 3

1. Diversity
2. Color
3. Metamorphosis
4. Behavior

Question 4

What beetle was worshipped in ancient Egypt and what was it a symbol of?

Answer 4

Scarab beetle as a symbol of the Sun God Ra

Question 5

What do scarab beetles help inspire today?

Answer 5

Scarabs became status symbol inspiring Louis Comfort Tiffany

Question 6

Why are flies worshipped?

Answer 6

Defensive behavior

Question 7

What were flies a symbol of in ancient Egypt?

Answer 7

Earliest known decoration for bravery in battle: the golden flies of valor

Question 8

Why are insects utilized in textiles?

Answer 8

The human need to decorate
-Embroidery
-Silk painting
-Wallpaper

Question 9

What is a second reason insects are utilized in textiles?

Answer 9

Symbolism
-Butterflies and moths
-Cicadas
-Beetles
-Flies

Question 10

What is a third reason insects are utilized in textiles?

Answer 10

Status symbols and hidden messages

Question 11

What is a direct reason for why insects are utilized in insects?

Answer 11

1. Dyes
2. Batik
3. Silk production
4. Beetle elytra as jewels and decoration

Question 12

How do individuals directly use insects for dyes?

Answer 12

1. Cochineal scales
   -Farmed on cacti
   -Adult females collected and crushed for dye
2. Lac insects
   -Incrustations cleaned by these insects scraped off, cleaned, and melted for shellac dye

Question 13

How do individuals directly use insects for batik?

Answer 13

1. Derived from beeswax
2. Used as a “resist” in the dying process
3. Melted and used to draw intricate designs

Question 14

How do individuals directly use insects for silk production?

Answer 14

1. Wild silk moths
   -Used to create Tussah silk cloth
   -Shorter fibres-pupae and adults are not killed
2. Domestic silk moth
   -Longer silk fibres with prismatic fibers
   -Kills pupae

Question 15

What is a byproduct of the the silk production process?

Answer 15

Seracin which used to be a pollutant but has antibacterial properties

Question 16

How do individuals directly use insects for jewels and decoration?

Answer 16

1. Beetle elytra
   -Shiny wing-coverings used in jewelry and embroidery
   -Singing shawl Pwo-Karen people of Thailand
   (used to make singing noise which had the goal of attracting a husband)