1986 Stag Beetle Lucanus Cervus Print – Bernard Durin Les Insectes Vintage Scientific Illustration – Linnaeus Entomology Art – 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 beetle, the largest in Europe, owes its name "stag beetle" to its large forked mandibles. The term "stag beetle" could actually apply to all members of the Lucanidae family. Only the males have such antlers, while the females have short mandibles shaped like pincers. Females measure 6 to 7 cm, but “major” males can reach up to 9 cm. So that these insects are not too unbalanced, their mandibles are hollow and contain many internal air pockets. The stag beetle appears from late June to early July. When the weather is hot, it flies loudly at dusk in search of a female or food. Its oversized mandibles are not for biting, but it uses its “tongue,” a brush-like appendage, to lap up tree sap and various other substances. Rivalries between males often lead to fierce combat, with each trying to grab its opponent by the mandibles; sometimes they injure or even mutilate each other. The female, more discreet and much rarer, behaves more cautiously. When absorbed in feeding, she remains still for long periods. The larvae are thick white grubs, about 10 to 11 cm long. They feed on decomposed wood from old oak trees. After 5 to 8 years, they form a cocoon in which they pupate before transforming into an adult beetle. The stag beetle only lives for one year in this final stage, spending most of it in hiding, waiting for the right moment to emerge. Once its hard shell is formed, it waits inside its casing until summer, when it emerges into the open. Since old oaks are rare, stag beetles have also become rarer, though they remain relatively abundant in southern Europe. **Backgound** 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 shows 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