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Domenic Pennetta

@domenicpennetta.bsky.social

370 followers 230 following 230 posts

🇨🇦 Scientific Illustrator | Speculative Evolution Artist | (He/Him) Inspired by invertebrates, prehistoric fauna, and life on Earth. Creator of Project Perditus and Astrovitae Magazine. Portfolio: www.domenicpennetta.com 🌿 Commissions are always open! 🌿

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Domenic Pennetta @domenicpennetta.bsky.social · May 27

I must acquire all sea bunnies

Domenic Pennetta @domenicpennetta.bsky.social · May 24

What a great photo! ❤️ Wasps are so misunderstood, but you made this little guy look so peaceful.

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Domenic Pennetta @domenicpennetta.bsky.social · May 22

Don’t worry, I’m not great at identifying plants either! 🌿

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Domenic Pennetta @domenicpennetta.bsky.social · May 22

I think people who don’t like pill bugs are weird! 💔 Like, how could you NOT love a little guy who can roll into a ball?! Crazy!

Domenic Pennetta @domenicpennetta.bsky.social · May 22

I’m surprised you were able to get a photo of one! 📸 They’re so fast! Looks like this guy is on some bee balm? They seem to really like those flowers! 🌸

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Domenic Pennetta @domenicpennetta.bsky.social · May 21

Twisted wing insects! I’ve always loved how bizarre they look—especially their trilobite-like eyes. Love seeing art of parasitic insects. 💖 Awesome work!

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Domenic Pennetta @domenicpennetta.bsky.social · May 21

If #bug not friend, why #bug friend shaped?! 🪲❤️

Domenic Pennetta @domenicpennetta.bsky.social · May 20

I almost stepped on a little roly-poly out on a walk today 😭 Remember folks, look before you step!

#krita #digitalart #sciart #scientificillustration #nature #invertebrates #invert #isopods #bugsky

Domenic Pennetta @domenicpennetta.bsky.social · Mar 12

Seen these guys before? The common pill bug, Armadillidium vulgare, plays a crucial role in maintaining plant life by ensuring dead plant matter is broken down and returned to the soil. 🌿

#sciart #scientificillustration #wildlifeart #nature #bugsky #inverts #isopod

Digital illustration of two common pill bugs, Armadillidium vulgare. Art by Domenic Pennetta.

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Domenic Pennetta @domenicpennetta.bsky.social · May 19

What flowers do they seem to like the most in your garden?! 🌼 And yes—I feel blessed whenever I see one of these little guys fly by. They’re fun to watch!

Domenic Pennetta @domenicpennetta.bsky.social · May 19

You’re quite welcome. And thanks commenting! Hopefully we’ll both get to see more moths this summer 😊

Domenic Pennetta @domenicpennetta.bsky.social · May 19

So what you’re saying is every moth is your favorite moth?! 💖

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Domenic Pennetta @domenicpennetta.bsky.social · May 19

Wow Peter 😮 That photo is incredible! ❤️ I’ve never seen a Luna moth in person—I can only imagine how much more impressive they look up close!

Domenic Pennetta @domenicpennetta.bsky.social · May 19

Clearwing moths and sphinx moths belong to the same family, Sphingidae. ✨ So they look alike because they’re both related! :)

Domenic Pennetta @domenicpennetta.bsky.social · May 19

Classic choice. ✨ Luna moths are magnificent!

Domenic Pennetta @domenicpennetta.bsky.social · May 19

Thank you! 😊

Domenic Pennetta @domenicpennetta.bsky.social · May 19

Do you have a favorite #moth? 🦋 Mine is the hummingbird clearwing! These moths are active during the day and are excellent #pollinators of native plants like wild bergamot, buttonbush, milkweed, and thistle. 🌼

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#sciart #scientificillustration #wildlifeart #nature #invert #bugsky

Digital illustration of the clearwing moth, Hemaris thysbe. Art by Domenic Pennetta.

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Domenic Pennetta @domenicpennetta.bsky.social · May 8

Thank you so much Bernard! ❤️

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Domenic Pennetta @domenicpennetta.bsky.social · May 6

This beetle owes hymenopterans royalty fees for stealing their black and yellow color pattern!

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Domenic Pennetta @domenicpennetta.bsky.social · May 6

Oh I love hairstreaks! 🦋 I was just working on an illustration of a gray hairstreak (Strymon melinus) last week. They have the coolest false antennae!

Domenic Pennetta @domenicpennetta.bsky.social · May 6

When we think of insect #pollinators, bees or butterflies come to mind. 🐝🌺 But on the island of Réunion, raspy #crickets are known to pollinate #orchid flowers at night. 🦗 Check out my illustration that depicts this interaction!

#sciart #scientificillustration #wildlifeart #nature #invert #bugsky

Digital illustration depicting two raspy crickets, Glomeremus orchidophilus, pollinating a species of orchid flower, Angraecum cadetii.

These crickets pollinate at night—feeding on the plant's nectar before their nectar-spurs become lodged on the cricket's head. The crickets then bring the spurs to neighboring orchids for pollination.

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Domenic Pennetta @domenicpennetta.bsky.social · May 3

This is possibly the best compliment I’ve ever received 🤣 thank you!

I take pride in my weirdness. My hope is that I can show the world all these weird yet wonderful inverts that live around us! ✨

Domenic Pennetta @domenicpennetta.bsky.social · May 3

I feel the same way! ✨ Sponges evolved early on the timeline of life and they’re still around today—they definitely need way more appreciation! Especially when it comes to paleoart!

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Domenic Pennetta @domenicpennetta.bsky.social · May 2

If you visit Wikipedia, editors have already replaced my original illustration with n earlier one that doesn’t include the proboscis.

Domenic Pennetta @domenicpennetta.bsky.social · May 2

Yeah… my commissioner made the suggestion to add that proboscis. It’s possible that maybe it did have one? But there’s no evidence for such a structure in the fossil record (and taxonomy points otherwise). I pushed back some but I didn’t want to loose the commission 😅

Domenic Pennetta @domenicpennetta.bsky.social · May 2

Happy #fossilfriday! ❤️ Here's my reconstruction of the Cambrian #sponge, Falospongia ramosa. 🪸 This genus is known from the Burgess Shale—where they once used their 'radiating fronds' to capture food.

#digitalart #sciart #scientificillustration #paleoart #paleontology #invertebratebiology #invert

Digital illustration of the early Cambrian sponge, Falospongia ramosa. Art by Domenic Pennetta.

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