World of Nature Insect Collection (Funrise Toys)

[bmathison1972]

This is an overall review of the entire World of Nature Insect Collection by Funrise Toys (1989). The figures are rather simple, so like several recent Safari LTD sets, a series overview might be more practical than many walk-arounds (but the latter can still be accomplished).

Each figure is marked with 'Funrise' and the year (1989) on the underside. They are not names on the figures, but are on the packaging. The names I have below are exactly how they are marketed on the packaging.

There are 24 figures and while many are similar to generic bin-style figures, most of them do not seem to be exactly duplicated in bin, dollar store, and other 'chinabug' sets (and I like to buy up all variations of generic figures for comparative purposes), which means Funrise may have invested in unique sculps for their figures! However, these figures may have 'influenced' figures produced since 1989. Several you will see below are rarely, if ever, made in toy form. Speaking of which, while quality gets better over the years, ever feel like variety and creativity are waning (outside of the Japanese companies, of course)?

On to the critters:

SPIDERS:
from left to right, top to bottom:
1) wolf spider
2) trapdoor spider
3) black widow spider
4) tarantula spider

The wolf, trapdoor, and tarantula spiders are too generic to assign further. The maculae on the black widow suggests the European, Latrodectus tridecimguttatus (although immatures of other widows may have dorsally maculate abdomens). All four of these, generically, have been made by other manufacturers, but the only other trapdoor spider I am familiar with is the one by Cadbury for their UK Yowies.



OTHER ARACHNIDS:
from left to right:
1) scorpion (Eucscorpius)
2) gigantic whip scorpion
3) sheep tick

These are three very nice choices. Scorpions are very common as toys, but I am not aware of another specifically assigned to Euscorpius. Whip scorpions are almost unheard of; the only other one I have is a cheap dollar store rubbery figure. The sheep tick (aka, castor bean tick, Ixodes ricinus) was done nicely by 3B Scientific.



ORTHOPTEROIDS:
from left to right:
1) common praying mantis
2) king termite
3) cockroach
4) migratory locust

Neither the praying mantis (Mantis religiosa) nor the migratory locust (Locusta migratoria) are uncommon among toys/figures. Cockroaches are commonly made in bin sets, but rarely attributable to a given species (the shapes on the pronotum of this one suggest Periplaneta americana). Termites are almost unheard of; this is only one of two in my collection and the other is a novelty soldier figure.



BEETLES:
from left to right:
1) weevil
2) click beetle
3) great diving beetle.

Now this is a refreshing change. Three beetles in this set and no stag, rhinoceros, or ladybird beetles!!! I am a click beetle specialist and this is the only one I have seen specifically assigned to this family (I have a couple dollar store figures that were probably modeled after clickers). The great diving beetle (Dytiscus) is a nice treat, as most of the figures, especially the Japanese ones, are typically Cybister. Weevils are not unheard of, but not common, and this is a particularly nice one, probably in the genus Lixus.



MOTHS AND BUTTERFLIES:
1) death's head hawkmoth

This is the only lepidopteran in the set and it is the adult of a death's head hawkmoth. Kaiyodo did a larva, and Jetoar (Paleo-Creatures) recently did an adult (which should be in transit to me... ).



FLIES:
from left to right, top to bottom:
1) tsetse fly
2) horse fly
3) black fly
4) fruit fly

For all intents and purposes, these are all generic flies. However it is nice that they are all different sculpts and they attempted to assign a name to them. Tsetse, black, and fruit flies may be unique! I do have a couple things that were clearly modeled after horse flies.



ANTS:
from left to right:
1) Dinoponera ant
2) large headed worker ant

Like the flies, these are somewhat generic, but they at least but a scientific genus on one of them! The two sculpts are not based on each other, nor do I have other generic ants that are similar. I wonder of by 'large headed ant' they mean the bighead ants, Pheidole megacephala?!?



BEES AND WASPS:
from left to right:
1) common hornet
2) tarantula hawk wasp
3) bumblebee

The hornet and bumblebee are fairly generic. The tarantula hawk is an interesting choice, even though the figure looks more like a braconid or ichneumonid rather than a pompilid! I grew up with tarantula hawks and this figure is a bit spindly. Still could make a nice diorama with the aforementioned tarantula



OK, that's a lot! Hope you enjoyed!

[Jetoar]

I have some figures of this collection of my childhood  .

[sbell]

I recognize the design of many of these, if not in their details--I'm guessing that they have been recast and re-distributed in multiple sets over the years.

[stemturtle]

Glad that you posted this valuable reference. Since the giant whip scorpion is the only species found in the United States, would it be safe to identify it as Mastigoproctus giganteus? The box calls it a "gigantic ship scorpion" from the deserts of the southwestern U.S.

[bmathison1972]

Glad that you posted this valuable reference. Since the giant whip scorpion is the only species found in the United States, would it be safe to identify it as Mastigoproctus giganteus? The box calls it a "gigantic ship scorpion" from the deserts of the southwestern U.S.

yes, my box said 'ship' too, with ship probably being a typo for 'whip'. It is probably safe to assume it was modeled after M. giganteus, although the figures in this set are not limited to the United States.

[bmathison1972]

I recognize the design of many of these, if not in their details--I'm guessing that they have been recast and re-distributed in multiple sets over the years.

Thanks Sean, I edited the discussion above to reflect what I meant to say. I collect all varieties of bin/dollar/drug store bugs and try to keep representatives of all the various sculpts, shapes, and sizes. For example I probably have 15-20 generic green grasshoppers, but not are the same as Funrise in terms of size, shape, proportions, and texture. While Funrise figures may have influenced later designs, I cant find an all-out knock off of these.
That being said, my collecting started in 2000 or so, and there may have been more knock-offs in the 1990s after this set was released, or knockoffs may be more prevalent in other countries but not here (?!?)

[brontodocus]

Ah, the Funrise insects! There are so many cool figures in this set, my favourite is the diving beetle. The elongate weevil is apparently a Lixus sp., several (but not all) species in that genus have diverging, pointy tips of the elytra.

[stemturtle]

Glad that you posted this valuable reference. Since the giant whip scorpion is the only species found in the United States, would it be safe to identify it as Mastigoproctus giganteus? The box calls it a "gigantic ship scorpion" from the deserts of the southwestern U.S.

yes, my box said 'ship' too, with ship probably being a typo for 'whip'. It is probably safe to assume it was modeled after M. giganteus, although the figures in this set are not limited to the United States.

Bmathison1972, thank you for confirming the ID of Mastigoproctus giganteus.
We were lucky that Funrise mentioned the geographic range of the vinegaroon.
Your expertise is a great asset to this forum.

[bmathison1972]

OK, I have recaptured images for these figures (better than my older pics-the lighting is much better in my Utah apartment) and uploaded them to Postimage.
This is a rather valuable reference to wanted to make sure I replaced it as soon as possible.

[widukind]

Wonderful

[Birdsage]

I think these are really intriguing figures!