Thinking on Collecting Insects/Arachnids/Etc

[EpicRaptorMan]

Up until now I've always been satisfied with my terrestrial fauna but in the last so many years I started expanding to aquatics.

Now I have 445 figures all on display. And I've been thinking about insects/bugs/ arachnids. But I'm hesitant to go down that rabbit hole. There are some species that are a mandatory to get if I do decide, but please If anyone has any large photos containing their bug collections then post em up here.

[bmathison1972]

If you want to introduce some insects and arachnids to your collection, want diversity, save on shelf space, and not spend a lot, I would suggest starting with those by Papo. They have done a wonderful job making high-quality small insects and arachnids since 2016. Next, I would suggest those by CollectA.
The 'rabbit hole' really starts with Japanese models...

[EpicRaptorMan]

@bmathison1972 yes Papo has proven itself with its invertebrates. They were the ones to get me to add the Brown Crab and Lobster to the collection.

I would like to get a black widow.
https://toyanimalwiki.mywikis.wiki/wiki/Safari_861626_Black_Widow_Spider
But SafariLtd's version (even the smaller one) is measured at nearly 6in wide(?) Do you have it and is that true?

[bmathison1972]

Both Safari black widows are large. I reviewed them both on the Blog:
https://animaltoyforum.com/blog/black-widow-hidden-kingdom-insects-by-safari-ltd/
https://animaltoyforum.com/blog/black-widow-smithsonian-insects-by-safari-ltd/

The black widow, surprisingly, is tough to get a version that is well-done yet not too big. Even CollectA's is so-so. Takara's is probably the best (https://toyanimalwiki.mywikis.wiki/wiki/Takara_Black_widow), and yes it is removable from the leaf base.

[EpicRaptorMan]

@bmathison1972 oh sorry I actually meant to say the CollectA Black widow which is smaller.

HHT has it but measures it at 5.5" long most of which is going to be the legs which makes it hard to get a good scale.
https://www.happyhentoys.com/collecta-88884-black-widow-spider.html

A large Hercules beetle is also on my list. As well as a Bombardier beetle & Bulldog ant. But no major Western companies have made those yet.

[bmathison1972]

I also reviewed CollectA's on the Blog. it's smaller, but not by much