1986 European Rhinoceros Beetle Oryctes Nasicornis Print - Durin Bernard Les Insectes Scientific Illustration - 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. This beautiful beetle, about 4 cm long, with the male bearing a large horn on its head and whose pronotum is equipped with a rear pair of satellite apophyses, rightly bears its name (Oryctes = digger, nasicornis = rhinoceros). It belongs to a subfamily of scarab beetles, the Dynastinae. Most species of this subfamily are found only in the tropics; it includes the largest scarabs, some of which have the longest horns. Oryctes nasicornis has a foreign air among the modest representatives of the fauna of Central Europe; and it is indeed of southern European origin, its larvae feeding on soil from dead tree trunks. It was able to establish itself further north when its larva began to develop in tanneries, in decomposing matter, thanks to the heat generated by fermentation. This beetle became rarer as fewer and fewer tanneries mixed their chemical products with tannin and also because tanneries themselves became less numerous. It was thought that this scarab had completely disappeared from Germany, but in the early 1930s, it reappeared among horticulturists. It had been accepted along with waste coming from tanneries, intended for fertilizers, and had developed in compost heaps. The fermentation and heat of the soil provided the necessary warmth for the development of the larvae. It also lives in manure. The development of the larva, a thick white grub that can reach a length of two and a half years, depends on the quantity and quality of food available. The larva feeds on decomposed plant matter, but is itself absolutely not edible. It pupates in a cocoon made of small pieces of earth glued together with soil saliva. These beetles generally hatch in July or June and are nocturnal, only exceptionally flying during the day. However, beetles are sometimes found active throughout most of the year, as the temperature remains almost constant inside the plant material, and thus the strict rhythm of the seasons disappears. Currently, Oryctes nasicornis is found in Central Europe, and even in Norway, in southern Sweden and Finland. **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