Review of the complete set of
Bugs n' Jug by the Imperial Toy Corporation (Imperial Toys, as it's often referred to on this forum) from 1990. The set consists of 12 beetle figures, a pamphlet, plastic forceps, a small magnifying glass, and a small mesh insect net, and the whole set came in a plastic jar. The set was clearly designed to introduce children to insects and promote insect collection!
The figures are on average about 30 mm long and a slightly soft rubber/plastic, characteristic of many vintage figures. Some represent interesting and bizarre families; half I still cannot confidently place. I have been holding off posting this until I could confidently identify everything but finally decided to post them, in hopes maybe someone can recognize some.
I have 'knock-off' figures of a few of these, although I am not sure who came first (I do not know how 'original' Imperial Toys tended to be...). Each figure is marked on the underside with their vintage 'crown' stamp but no name, common or scientific.
Group shot with pamphlet:
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Individual beetles, the 'known' species to families followed by the unknowns:
1. Wedge-shaped beetle, family Ripiphoridae. This is a neat one, and to my knowledge the only member of this family in toy form (not including potential knock-offs--I think I have seen one on eBay).
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2. Stag beetle, family Lucanidae. Nothing exciting and probably too generic to ID further...
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3. Click beetle, family Elateridae. This figure actually has a prosternal process sculpted on the underside, solidifying its placement in Elateridae (my specialty group!). I also have a lavender-colored knock-off of this guy.
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4. Tumbling flower beetle, family Mordellidae. Like the ripiphorid above, another unique one at the family level!
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5. Primitive weevil, family Brentidae. I have a few of these in various sizes but all influenced from one another. I have yet to hunt down the genus or species but it looks familiar...
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6. Giraffe weevil,
Trachelophorus giraffa, family Attelabidae. This figure is identifiable by its shape, but it really should be red instead of green. The only figure in the set I can currently identify to the species level.
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7. Unknown
#1. The shape suggests Chrysomelidae but the mandibles are unusual...(Histeridae?)
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8. Unknown
#2. I am pretty sure this is a flea beetle (Chrysomelidae: Alticini). In the U.S. one might consider the genus
Orthaltica!
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9. Unknown
#3. This is most-certainly a fungus beetle of some kind, probably in the family Erotylidae or Endomychidae (maybe a glorified
Tritoma?).
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10. Unknown
#4. Another possible chrysomelid? Very generic; the form is actually dytiscid-like but the antennae are awfully long.
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11. Unknown
#5. I have seen this general morphotype a few times in toy form. I always considered them checkered beetles (Cleridae), but who can say?
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12. Unknown
#6. This one strikes me as a possible member of Tenebrionidae. Maybe a glorified
Bolitophagus?
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