Photos: Part insect, part timepiece

Portland, Maine, artist Mike Libby customizes real insect specimens with antique watch parts and other technological components.

"Some of the most advanced 'aircraft' is no bigger, or heavier, than a dragonfly, and NASA scientists are making big steps in walking rovers and 'swarm theory' probes for planetary exploration," the artist says in a statement. "Manmade technology is finding that the most manuverable and efficient design features really do come from nature."

Here, one of Libby's creations, a 5-inch-wide tarantula, gets tricked out with brass and steel gears and parts.