Blaine's Bug of the Day

OK, I already have a thread showing my collection on display. But I am creating a new thread that I will use to photo-document my collection. On a periodic basis (maybe not EVERY day), I will post a species and ALL figures I have of that given species. I am aware I don't have everything and I am sure many of you will recognize figures I am lacking. As I add new members of a given species, I will update that post so all members of the same species are in the same post.

I will try to cross post this on ATF and STS to have it safely in two places.

Please feel free to comment but please so not post images in this thread. I would like all the images to be mine (for logistical reasons). Thank you for your cooperation.

If anyone can contribute a name to an 'unknown manufacturer' please chime in!

In the meantime, enjoy.

Since I have been doing a lot with Lepidoptera lately, let's start with the monarch (and related members of the genus Danaus), since I have more of this species (21 figures) than any other lepidopteran.

I. monarch, Danaus plexippus.

A. Some large, well-made figures.
1. 4D Master (Butterfly Collection)
2. Safari LTD (Hidden Kingdom Insects)
3. CollectA (this is probably the best of the lot, among the plastic figures at least!)

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]free image hosting

B. Some large, soft figures
1. K&M International (Insects Polybag)
2. unknown manufacturer (originally had a string to hang from a ceiling or object)

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]image ru

3. Learning Resources (Jumbo Insects) [added 3/2/2017]

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]adult image hosting

C. Life Cycle by Safari LTD (Safariology)

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]upload foto

D. Miscellaneous small to medium figures
1. Safari LTD (Authenics Insects)
2. Cadbury (Yowies - Australian release)
3. Cadbury (Yowies - UK release)
4. K&M International (Butterflies Nature Tube)
5. unknown manufacturer (from a set of Club Earth knock-offs)
6. US Toy
7. unknown manufacturer
8. Toy Major
9. Groovy Tube Books (Bug Blast!)
10. Safari LTD (Smithsonian Insects)

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]upload a gif

E. Porcellain figurines
1. Franklin Mint (Butterflies of the World)
2. Little Critterz (Little Critterz)
3. Little Critterz (Northern Rose)
4. unknown (possible doll-house decor)

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]image sharing sites

A couple French feves by unknown manufacturers. [added 2/1/2017]

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]img host


II. queen, Danaus gilippus.

Only two figures, both of which whose identifications are based on my theories (and as such, open for debate). The larva is by Beam; the adult is by Toy Major.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]upload imagem

III. common tiger, Danaus genutia.
Only one figure, by Yujin (Insects of Japan). This figure was marketed as being in the genus Salatura.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]upload imagem

Unbelievable models :)

Your collection is amazing, your knowledge is impressive, and your pictures are perfect

Thankyou for sharing

I look very much forward to follow your buggy-topics

As usual with arthropods, your collection is more complete than TAI - fortunately we have the chance of using some of your pictures there.
Monarchs are surely the most common butterfly figures in toy shape, Just as T-rexes are the most common dinos or lion the most common extant wild animal.
The insect world is actually ver complex, butterfly species are really a lot and some look alike, even if emperors seem easy to identify, it is good to remember about the viceroy that looks very similar. Thanks for opening this topic.

Roger wrote:

....... it is good to remember about the viceroy that looks very similar......

Gosh ! I didn't know that
Lesson of the day

SUSANNE wrote:

Roger wrote:

....... it is good to remember about the viceroy that looks very similar......

Gosh ! I didn't know that
Lesson of the day

Interestingly the large K&M figure (second image) is sometimes marketed as a viceroy. But I do not consider a figure a viceroy unless it has that distinctive black band across the hind wings.

Roger: you may use any of my images anytime for TAI.

Well, it seems I will learn a lot about Fauna and toys here, thank you for opening this topic Blaine

bmathison1972 wrote:

...... I do not consider a figure a viceroy unless it has that distinctive black band across the hind wings.

Good rule of thumb

EDIT: Updated first post to include other members of Danaus (since I only had 3 other figures representing 2 species).

By the way I made a list of all species in my collection and numbered them. I am using a random number generator to determine what will be posted next...

So...that random number generator selected another danaine butterfly, related to the monarch! LOL, you can't make this stuff up. So, the second post will represent:

paper kite, Idea leuconoe:

A. Life cycle elements:
1. larva: Kaiyodo (CapsuleQ Museum Caterpillars)
2. pupa: Yujin (Insects of Japan)
3. adult: Yujin (Insects of Japan)

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]post a picture

B. small and medium figures.
1. K&M International (Butterflies Nature Tube)*
2. Safari LTD (Butterflies of the World Collectors Case)*
3. Safari LTD (Authentics Butterflies)
4. K&M International (Mini Butterfly Polybag)

*this species should not have tails. The Safari figure was specifically marketed as I leuconoe and the K&M figure is apparently a copy of it. Safari corrected the error for the Authentics figure.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]post a picture

C. French feve figurine. [added 2/1/2017]

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]img host

The Yujin is pure beauty

Very nice :)

The random number generator is keeping the Lepidoptera theme going with the commercial silkworm moth, Bombyx mori.

A. Life cycle by Insect Lore.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]upload image online

B. miscellaneous figures: [updated 8/2/217]
1. larva by Kaiyodo (CapsuleQ Museum Caterpillars)
2. larva by Shenig (Larvae Moei)
4. pupa by Shenig (Larvae Moei)
4. adult by Kaiyodo (Sticky Tack Insect Set)

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

Going into the weekend, so two-for-one tonight. This time, the genus Argiope, and other araneids. [edited 1/20/2017]

I. garden spider, Argiope amoena.
One figure of this species, by Bandai (Figure Pictorial Book of Gakken Insect)

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]pc screenshot

II. black-and-yellow argiope, Argiope aurantia.
I have only one figure so far, by Play Visions (Habitat Earth: Tarantulas and Spiders)

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]pc screenshot

III. St. Andrews Cross spider, Argiope keyserlingi.
One figure, by K&M International (Spiders Bulk)

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]pc screenshot

IV. A large generic Argiope by Sun Wai Toys

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]pc screenshot

V. spiny orb-weaver, Gasteracantha cancriformis .
One figure, by K&M International (Spiders Bulk)

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]image

VI. The leaf-rolling spider, Phonognatha graeffei. [added 2/18/2017]
One figure, by Cadbury (Yowies).

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]imgurl

VII. Some generic 'garden spiders'
A couple figures marketed as garden or orb-weaving spiders (Aranaeidae).

left: Wicked Cool Toys (Wild Kratts Creature Power Pack - Crawlers Set)
right: Groovy Tube Books (Bug Blast!) [this is a repaint of a generic spider, but was specifically marketed as a garden spider]

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]pc screenshot

...and I guess by web morphology this is also an aranaeid:

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]imgur

Thanks for offering your pictures to Toy Animal Wiki, I still have to introduce your Toy Major butterflies on TAI but it won't be easy next weeks.
About the Japanese papermaybe it is a good idea that you take a picture of it and ask directly to a Japanese member. They're not many but who knows you can find some help.
It is really amazing to see all these figures and I enjoy particularly that you collect several brands, regardless the quality presented.

Those Paper Kites in the first picture, ohhhh

Thankyou for all these wonderful pictures, it is very ver interesting

The random number generator this morning landed on the planarian, Dugesia sp. This is not an arthropod (I have select other invertebrates, plankton, and protozoa).
This figure is from Kitan Club - Nature Techni Colour; it was in a set of six but I only got one to get a representative of this species.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]photo uploading

By the way, it's a weekend so I hope to have several posts today and/or tomorrow...

The random number generator selected another spider, the mabel orchard spider, Leucauge venusta.

I have one figure of this species, and probably the only figure of a member of the family Tetragnathidae, by K&M Internatinal (Spiders Bulk).

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]upload

The first Diptera! The random number generator selected a species of mosquito, and since there are so few figures of this group I'll show all of mine.

I. Anopheles maculipennis.
One figure, by Skillcraft (Insect Lab) [I had to paint it myself]

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]online photo storage

II. unassigned mosquitoes.

A. Life cycle by Safari LTD (Safariology)

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]online photo storage

B. miscellaneous small figures.
1. left: Bullyland
2. right: unknown manufacturer

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]online photo storage

Well, the random number generator finally landed on a beetle, and it's Dorcus titanus platymelus. So, here are all of my Dorcus species (12 of them!) and figures.

I. Dorcus alcides.
1. DeAgostini (World Insect Data Book)
2. Sega (small series, standard)

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]image hosting no sign up

3. Sega (DX) [added 11/19/2017]

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

II. Dorcus antaeus.
1. DeAgostini (World Insect Data Book)

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]image hosting no sign up

III. Dorcus arrowi.
1. DeAgostini (World Insect Data Book)

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]image hosting no sign up

IV. Dorcus bucephalus
1. DeAgostini (World Insect Data Book)

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]image hosting no sign up

V. Dorcus curvidens.
1. Takara Tomy A.R.T.S. (Beetles of the World)-male
2. Takara Tomy A.R.T.S. (Beetles of the World)-female
3. Hayakwa Toys (Insect Collection - Special)
4. Kabaya (World Insect Series 1)

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]image hosting no sign up

VI. Dorcus grandis [updated 11/19/2017]
1. Sega (small series, standard)
2. Sega (Mushi King magnet)
3. Kabaya (World Insect Series 1)

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

4. 4D Master (Beetle Collecion) [added 4/10/2017]

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]image search

VII. Dorcus hopei-complex.
These are those marketed under either D. hopei or the subspecies, D. hopei binodulosus. This is the most commonly-made Dorcus species.

A. Large figures.
1. DeAgostini (World Insect Data Book)
2. Takara Tomy A.R.T.S. (B.I.G. Beetles)

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]print screen

B. Medium-sized figures.
1. F-Toys (Insect Hunter Beetle and Stag Beetle)
2. F-Toys (Beetle Battle)
3. Rement
4. Kitan Club – Nature Techni Colour (Nature of Japan Vol. 3)
5. Colorata (Tropical Rain Forest Stag Beetles)
6. Sega (Mushi King)
7. Saga
8. Kaiyodo (Capsule Q Museum – Stag Beetles)

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]print screen

C. Smaller and misc. figures.
1. Bandai (Bugs Museum)
2. Sega
3. Wing Mau
4. Sega

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]print screen

D. Immature stages.
1. Kaiyodo (Capsule Q Museum – Caterpillars)
2-4. Kaiyodo (Choco Q Animatales)

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]print screen

2017 additions [added 11/19/2017]
These were added second half of 2017
1. Sega
2. Hayakwa Toys (Insect Collection - Special)
3. Sega

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

VIII. Dorcus rectus. [updated 11/19/2017]
1. Sega
2. Sega
3. Sega (small series, standard)

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

IX. Dorcus rubrofemoratus.
1. Sega

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]image hosting no sign up

X. Dorcus titanus-complex.
1. D. titanus titanus, DeAgostini (World Insect Data Book)
2. D. titanus palawanicus, Takara Tomy A.R.T.S. (B.I.G. Beetles, 2016)
3. D. titanus platymelus, F-toys (Beetle Battle)
4. D. titanus platymelus, Yujin (Insects of Japan) [marketed as Serognathus platymelus]

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]image hosting no sign up

1. D. titanus palawanicus, Sega (DX) [added 4/19/2017]

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]windows screenshot

Late 2017 updates [added 11/19/2017]:
1. Sega (large series, standard) [subspecies palawanicus]
2. Takara Tomy A.R.T.S. (B.I.G. Beetles 2017) [subspecies palawanicus]

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

1. ShanTrip [subspecies palawanicus]
2. Hayakwa Toys (Insect Collection - Special)

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

XI. Dorcus tityus
1. Sega

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]image hosting no sign up

This post is a personal request from a good friend, colleague, and frequent collaborator: ticks in the genus Ixodes.

I. Australian paralysis tick, Ixodes holocyclus.
One figure, by Paleo-Creatures [figure is a male]

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]adult image upload

II. castor bean tick, Ixodes ricinus.
1. 3B Scientific
2. Funrise Toys (World of Nature Insect Collection)

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]adult image upload

III. Black-legged tick, Ixodes scapularis. [added 2/18/2018]

Two figures, an engorged female and a male by a currently unknown manufacturer.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]upload img

IV. miscellanous 'Ixodes' ticks.
1. GPI Anatomicals (Canine Skin Parasites)-this is an otherwise great figure except for the presence of festoons which this genus should not have.
2. Play Visions (Fleas, Lice, and Ticks)-this is marketed as a 'deer tick' which generally implies an Ixodes, but members of this genus should not have eyes, an ornate dorsal shield, nor festoons.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]adult image upload[/u]

I have a special bias for D. titanus platymelus, Yujin (Insects of Japan).

This one is really impressive How big is it?

Unbelievable!!

Kikimalou wrote:

I have a special bias for  D. titanus platymelus, Yujin (Insects of Japan).

This one is really impressive.  How big is it?

Kiki, the Sun Wai spider is 13 cm (body length, without legs); 30 cm (leg tip to leg tip)

As a request from stargatedalek, here are the luna moths, Actias luna, and other members of the genus Actias. Not as many out there as one would hope (I should check out for porcelain figurines...)

I. Luna moth, Actias luna.

A. Large figures.

1. Safari LTD (Smithsonian Insects)

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]photo sharing websites

2. Doug Walpus Art Studio.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]pc screenshot

B. A smaller, softer figure by Groovy Tube Books (Bug Blast!).

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]photo sharing websites

C. Life cycle by Safari LTD (Safariology).

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]photo sharing websites

II. Indian moon moth, Actias selene.
One figure, a refrigerator magnet by Doug Walpus Art Studio.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]pc screenshot