Blaine's Bug of the Day

Another libellulid dragonfly, Ryothemis fulginosa.

One figure, by Yujin (Insects of Japan) [the best sets around for accurate dragonfly figures]

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The random number generator landed on Euscorpius. Since I have only one of these (to date), this is a good chance to show all of my generic scorpions...

I. Small wood scorpion, Euscorpius sp.
One figure, by Funrise Toys (World of Nature Insect Collection). One of the few figures in this set given a genus-level identification!

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II. Miscellaneous scorpions.

A. Medium to Large figures by known manufacturers/distributors.
1. K&M International
2. K&M International
3. Toy Major

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B. Smaller figures by known manufacturers.
1. Discovery Kids (Disgusting Facts Kit)
2. Groovy Tube Books (Bug Blast!)
3. K&M International (Insects Nature Tube)
4. Safari LTD (Cave Dwellers TOOB)
5. Safari LTD (Insects TOOB)
6. Silver Dolphin Books (Animal Adventures: Insects and Spiders)
7. Toy Major (Animal Planet Head Animal Tube - Insects)
8. Toy Major

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1. Schleich (Scorpion Nest)
2. Schleich (Death Valley Set)
3. PlayMobil

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C. Medium to large figures by unknown manufacturers.

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D. Smaller figures by unknown manufacturers.
Figure No. 1 was in a set released in conjunction with Disney's A Bug's Life.

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E. Porcelain figurines.
One, to date, by Little Critterz (Little Critterz).

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Clouded sulfurs in the genus Colias.

I. Orange sulfur, Colias eurytheme.

1. Polyresin figurine by Steal Street.

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2. Magnet by Doug Walpus Art Studio. [added 5/13/2017]

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II. Field's clouded sulfur, Colias fieldii. [added 5/13/2017]
One figure, a magnet by Doug Walpus Art Studio.

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III. Clouded sulfur, Colias philodice. [added 5/13/2017]
One figure, a magnet by Doug Walpus Art Studio.

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The rosy maple moth, Dryocampa rubicunda.

One figure, by Paleo-Creatures (Amazing Moths).

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African flower scarabs in the genus Mecynorrhina.

I. Mecynorrhina oberthuri decorata.
One figure, by Shapeways (Eric's Studio) - painted myself

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II. Mecynorrhina polyphemus.
One figure, by DeAgostini (World Insect Data Book)

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Moore's cupid, Shijimia moorei.

One figure, by Kaiyodo (Natural Monuments of Japan). [marketed as Everes moorei]

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Dwarf wood scorpion, Liocheles australasiae.

One figure, by Takara Tomy A.R.T.S. (Scorpions).

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TARDIGRADES! I know this is a favorite group among several of you, so here they are!

I. Echiniscus japonicus.
One figure, by Kaiyodo (Strange Predators)

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II. Turtle water bear, Echiniscus testudo.
One figure, by Agatsuma (Strange Predators).

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III. Hypsibius dujardini.
One figure, by Takara Tomy A.R.T.S. (The Minimum Coexistence: Microbe).

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IV. Unidentified tardigrades.
One figure, by Shapeways (Raw Legend Collaborations) - painted myself

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Just one tonight! This time, carpenter ants in the genus Camponotus.

I. Japanese carpenter ant, Camponotus japonicus.
1. Caste set, by Epoch, featuring a queen (top) and three workers carrying carious prey.

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2. Takara Tomy A.R.T.S. (B.I.G. Insects - 2017). [added 6/21/2017]

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II. Texas carpenter ant, Camponotus texanus.
One figure, by Club Earth (Ants and Termites).

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III. Unidentified Camponotus species.
One figure, by K&M International (Insects Polyvinyl Bag).

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The jazzy leafwing, Hypna clytemnestrata.

One figure, by Safari LTD (Butterflies TOOB) [marketed as Anaea clytemnestrata]

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One of my FAVORITE decapod figures, the gaudy clown crab Platypodiella spectabilis.

One figure, by 4D Famemaster.

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The differential grasshopper, Melanoplus differentialis and Generic Green Grasshoppers (GGG).

I. Differential grasshopper, Melanoplus differentialis.
One figure, by CollectA. This was sold as a differential grasshopper when I bought it, but not sure if that was CollectA's intention (?). That is why I decided to use this post to highlight other GGGs.

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II. Generic Green Grasshoppers (GGGs).
Grasshoppers are a staple in any bag, bin, set, or tube so naturally I have acquired a lot of them over the years...

A. Figures by known manufacturers and distributors.

1. VERY LARGE figure by Toy Major.
It's antennae broke off during the move from GA to UT.

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2. Medium-large figures.
1. Bullyland
2. Nayab
3. K&M International (Insects Polyvinyl Bag)

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

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3. Smaller figures.
1. AAA
2. Groovy Tube Books (Bug Blast!)
3. K&M International (Insects Nature Tube)
4. K&M International (Garden Tube - European release)
5. Toy Major (Animal Planet Head Animal Tube - Insects)
6. Rubie's Costumes (Night Creatures - Giant Insects) - sold as Halloween decor
7. Safari LTD (Insects TOOB)
8. Silver Dolphin Books (Animal Adventures: Insects and Spiders)
9. unknown manufacturer [released in conjunction with Disney's A Bugs Life]

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B. Unknown manufacturers.

1. GIANT soft model from an unknown Japanese manufacturer.
See it's size in relation to one of my running shoes!

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2. Large figures.

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3. Medium figures.
The one on the far right was from a dollar store set that included several Bullyland knock-offs.

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4. Smaller figures.
One will no doubt see some Toy Major influence among a couple of these...

EDIT 3/5/2017: the dark green figure towards the lower left is Locusta migratoria by Hayakwa Toys and will be reposted there.

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The metallic wood-boring beetle, Anthaxia nitidula.

One figure, by XX.

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The great purple emperor, Sasakia charonda.

This is one of the few butterfly species made somewhat regularly by Japanese manufacturers.

A. Smaller figures.
1. Kabaya (World Insect Series 1)
2. Bandai (Bugs Museum)
3. Kaiyodo (Insects Gather to Sap - Night Feast of Midsummer) - female
4. Kaiyodo (Choco Q Animatales)
5. Kaiyodo (Insects Gather to Sap - Night Feast of Midsummer) - male

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B. Large figure by unknown manufacturer.
Came with a string to be hung from a ceiling or object. This ID is mine.

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Butterflies in the genus Parnassius. These are 'tailless' relatives of the swallowtails.

I. Mountain Apollo, Parnassius apollo.
1. Paleo-Creatures (Little Treasures of Europe)
2. unknown French feve manufacturer

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1. Doug Walpus Art Studio [added 5/13/2017]

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II. Eversmann's parnassian, Parnassius eversmanni.
On figure, by Kaiyodo (Natural Monuments of Japan).

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III. Small Apollo, Parnassius phoebus.
Both of my current figures are larvae:
1. unknown manufacturer [possibly by Club Earth - the common name is printed on the underside, but with no manufacturer logo]
2. Beam

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Next up, the greenbottle blue tarantula, Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens.

One GIANT figure, from an unknown manufacturer (but I wouldn't be surprised if it had its origins in Toy Major or AAA).

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Antlions! Biologically interesting, but largely ignored in toy form. Both my figures are larvae, which is not surprising given their appearances and habits.

I. Hagenomyia micans.
One figure, by Kaiyodo (Choco Q Animatales).

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[u]II. Unidentified antlions[/i].
One figure, a porcelain figurine by Martin Perry Studios (Fragile World).

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they are interesting
TARDIGRADES is so great)

thank you, kessan.

The flower scarab, Jumnos ruckeri.

Two figures, and while one was probably influences by the other, one is not a direct bootleg of the other as there are noticeable differences in the sculpts.

1. XX
2. Play Visions (Exotic Beetles)

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Another buprestid beetle today, this time the Australian species Temnognatha murrayi.

Two figures, both by Cadbury (Yowies). The figure on the left is the Australian release; the one one the right is the UK release.

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The lantern bug, Pyrops intricata.

Just one figure (and unfortunately, the only fulgorid figure I am aware of), by Play Visions (Exotic Insects).

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Darners (or darning-needle dragonflies) in the genus Anax. Also included are some generic dragonflies that appear to be modeled after darners.

I. Green darner, Anax junius.

A. Large figure by Safari LTD (Smithsonian Insects).

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B. Other figures.
1. Safari LTD (Hidden Kingdom Insects)
2. Safari LTD (Authentics Insects)
3. Bullyland

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II. Lesser emperor, Anax parthenope julius.
One figure, by DeAgostini (World Insect Data Book). This is one of only two non-beetles in the entire set!

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III. Miscellaneous darners and darner-like dragonflies.

A. 4D Famemaster.

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B. Blip Toys (Nature's Wonders HD).

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C. Miscellaneous smaller figures.
1. K&M International (Insects Nature Tube).
2. Toy Major (Animal Planet Head Animal Tube - Insects)
3. unknown manufacturer [but appears to be a Toy Major knock-off]
4. unknown manufacturer

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Next up, nymphalid butterflies in the genus Siproeta.

I. The malachite, Siproeta stelenes.
Three figures, none of which are PVC/plastic toys.

1. Steal Street
2. Franklin Mint (Butterflies of the World)

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3. Doug Walpus Art Studio. [added 5/13/2017]

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II. Broad-banded page, Siproeta superba. [added 9/9/2017]
One figure, by K&M International (Butterflies Nature Tube).

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The German yellowjacket, Vespula germanica.

Interestingly, the two figures I have were both marketed as 'hornets' (typically genus Vespa), but based on the colors I think Vespula is a better fit.

A. Small figure by Bullyland.

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B. Larger figure by 4D Famemaster.

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Time for some waterscorpions. Since these are so rarely made, I will show all (currently, 2) of my species here.

I. Laccotrephes japonensis.
One figure, by F-toys (Creatures of the Waterside).

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II. Ranatra chinensis.
One figure, by F-toys (Creatures of the Waterside).

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