1986 Weevil Brachycerus Apterus Print - Durin Bernard Les Insectes - Vintage 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. This insect, 22 to 41 mm long and 12.5 to 22 mm wide, is dark brown in colour and bears red markings on the thorax, elytra, and femurs. It belongs to the family of weevils (Curculionidae). The two names it bears have meaning valid for the genus as a whole. The term Brachycerus, which means short horn, refers to its short snout, even if we must admit that the rostrum is still a cone. The rostrum, not only short but also wide, bears short antennae, swollen and knobby at the tips. The specific name apterus, meaning without wings, expresses the fact that the genus is wingless. The elytra, rounded and convex, are fused along the suture because flight is unnecessary for them; the membranous wings are absent. The species here represented is of South African origin and is found in the provinces of the Cape, Natal, Orange Free State, and Transvaal. The approximately 100 known species of the genus are found throughout the southern regions, from Portugal and Spain to southern France and Italy, Greece and Asia Minor, and across all of Africa. Their larvae particularly appreciate the bulbs of irises, daffodils, and araceae, as well as all bulbous plants that botanists classify among monocotyledons. Thus, it is not surprising that this weevil invades garlic (Allium) fields from the lily family, and when its larvae multiply in cultivated fields, this insect can proliferate to the point of becoming a pest. Not all species are harmful, however; some are harmless to bulbous plants of a South African species, for example, and they favor citrus trees. **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