Camouflage is a way that some animals hide in plain sight by blending in with the environment. A few species of animals make their own camouflage by collecting and assembling natural materials on their bodies. Caddisfly larvae hide from predators by building a case around themselves that looks just like their underwater stream habitat. Artists have taken it a step further, raising their own caddisfly and offering unique building materials like gold and pearls to create ornate protective cases. These are preserved as artworks after the caddisfly larvae undergo their metamorphosis into the fly stage of their life cycle.
Supplies
- Toilet paper rolls
- Glue or double-sided tape
- Scissors
- Collected natural materials (pebbles, tree bark, small sticks, dried leaves, shells, etc.)
Instructions
Step 1: Cut a slit in your toilet paper roll, from one end to the other.
Step 2: Cut your toilet paper roll in half to make two cuffs.
Step 3: Look at your selection of natural items and consider what you want your cuffs to look like. Do you want them to look camouflaged, like a caddisfly larvae casing, or do you want to arrange the materials in a particular pattern? Maybe you want to make one of each style to compare how different they look. Glue your collection to the outside of your cuff, try to cover the entire surface.
Explore
Once your cuffs are dry, put one on each wrist and see if you can find some places, either inside or outside, where your cuffs can hide in plain sight!
To watch this process visit youtube.com/PeabodyEssexMuseum
Show Us!
We want to see your caddisfly cuff. Share your photos online using #PEMpod or #peabodyessex