Paging Miss Muffet
INSECTS ARE THE ultimate purpose-driven animals. Their highly optimized anatomies arise from their ability to mass-reproduce, their short generational cycles (ask the mayfly) and an abundance of predators trying to turn them into lunch -- or as it turns out, art. Contemplating a dead beetle one day, sculptor Mike Libby was struck by its similarity to clockwork. After he implanted watch parts into the carcass, Insect Lab was born. Libby's creations, including bees, butterflies, and spiders (the arachnid pictured is roughly two inches across), are reasonably priced (from $250, insectlabstudio.com). He'll even create custom pieces out of specimens from your backyard.