1986 Tanner Beetle Polyphylla Fullo Print - Durin Bernard 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=for more prints. The Tanner Beetle is of the genus Polyphylla because of their antennae ending in leaf-like lobes. The lamellate antennae have at their ends a club made up of segments widened into lamellae, and the number varies from 3 to 7. These lamellae can be opened or closed like a fan, as seen in chafers. The Tanner Beetle is a close relative of the common chafer. It was the Roman naturalist Pliny the Elder who gave it its name: fullo means "fuller" (a person who cleans and thickens cloth). The long curved claws of the beetle probably reminded Pliny of the hooks used by fullers to stretch cloth. The tanner beetle usually measures more than 3 cm in length; it is much larger than the common chafer. The elytra (wing covers), dark in the background, are speckled with white. The male's fan-shaped antennae are particularly striking, which earned it its generic name. The female's antennae are significantly smaller. The antennae, which carry the olfactory organs, are essential for males when searching for females. The tanner beetle prefers sandy soils where vegetation is sparse. It is found throughout almost all of Europe to Asia Minor. The larvae can become harmful when they attack grasses planted to stabilize sand dunes. Badgers are particularly fond of chafer larvae. **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. **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