1986 Elephant Grasshopper Pamphagus Elephas Print - Durin Bernard Les Insectes Scientific Illustration - Linnaeus Entomology - 11 x 13 in

This is a gorgeous high quality vintage print with vivid colours taken from a disbound copy of Les Insectes by Bernard Durin. The dimensions are 11 x 13 inches. Visit https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/ForestHillArtsHouse?section_id=53836226 for more Insects prints. The Pamphagines (Pamphaginae) form a subfamily of the grasshopper family (Acrididae), to which our familiar green and highly feared locusts also belong. Not only the females but also the males of the elephant grasshopper have reduced and non-functional wings. They bear vestigial wings that are non-functional, as shown in the illustration. In the course of their evolution, they have become territorial insects incapable of flight. Living in dry regions and often hiding among stones, they are protected by thick plates on the dorsal surface of their body; in such a harsh environment, these features reduce water loss. Similarly, their spiny legs are useful for movement on sandy soil. Pamphagines are particularly well adapted to life in arid regions. The species Pamphagus elephas is found in the arid regions of North Africa, in Algeria, Tunisia, and Cyrenaica, the eastern province of Libya. It is also found in the Cape Province of South Africa. **Background** The artist Bernard Durin was an artist and illustrator transforming the tiniest creatures into works of art. Born in France in 1940, "Beetles and Other Insects," was published in 1980. It is considered a masterpiece. Durin has captured the intricate patterns, textures, and colours of his subjects with stunning accuracy. He made around 60 portraits of insects, using rare and fascinating specimens entrusted to him by the entomologists of the Museum of Natural History in Paris. Durin’s work combines scientific precision with artistic beauty. This has made them valuable to entomologists and other scientists. Bernard Durin passed away in 1988. His illustrations continue to be admired for their beauty and precision, and they remain a valuable resource for anyone interested in the natural world. **About Your Purchase:** - Your purchase is this ORIGINAL vintage print. No modern reprints, reproductions, or copies. - Please note: This print is sold unmounted. **Condition:** Good. Consistent with age. The reverse has text in German. There is no show-through. **Returns & Shipping** - **Returns:** No-questions-asked within 14 days provided in the same condition as dispatched; buyer pays return shipping. - **Packaging:** All prints are securely packaged in a clear bag with a board-backed envelope, further reinforced with recycled cardboard. - Dispatched via Royal Mail Tracked 24/48 (and Royal Mail Tracked International) with: - UK delivery within 1-3 days - US/EU delivery within 5-12 days - Rest-of-world delivery within 7-21 days