1986 Maybug Common Cockchafer Melolontha Melolontha Print - Durin Bernard Les Insectes Scientific Image - 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 cockchafer belongs to the large family of scarabs (Scarabaeidae). The antennae are longer in males than in females. They are seen in May, after sunset, when increased air humidity attracts them to leaves, and they fly among the trees. They prefer forest edges or orchards. During their massive swarming, they sometimes completely devour the leaves of trees. They particularly seek out oaks, chestnuts, and poplars, but can also be found on elms. Natural enemies of chafers are birds, especially starlings that capture them while they are still edible. The adult’s life is short. The female lays 60 to 80 eggs in the soil, at a depth of 10 to 20 cm. After hatching, the larvae are white grubs, which are even more harmful than the adults. They gnaw roots and attack crops like corn, while their mandibles tear at potatoes. White grubs do not pupate until the end of the second or third year. Adults emerge 4 to 8 weeks later and live through late spring to early summer, until the end of May, in their larval chamber. The length of their development may therefore require a full cycle of three years. Years of massive swarms, called “cockchafer years,” follow the same 3- or 4-year cycle. The chafers first emerge from the soil at the forest edges and fly for a few days before moving to open land to lay their eggs. Cockchafers are widespread in central and southern Europe. Today, tabloids sometimes claim they are extinct because they have disappeared from a region or are only found sporadically; this is not exactly true. But we should be thankful they are no longer as abundant as in the past. In the past, massive swarms of chafers caused extensive damages. **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