Blaine's Bug of the Day

[brontodocus]

Urgh, I still haven't finished my Skilcraft Red Admiral! That Spilosoma glatignyi shows that some Yowies can really be excellent figures.

[bmathison1972]

Thanks Andre!

So, I am taking advantage of having more time on the weekends and selecting some of the bigger and busier taxa, so now and then I'll put the random number generator aside and tackle a specific group. First up is the genus Coccinella as well as ALL of my lady beetles that are not attributable to a species or genus. Other lady beetle figures attributable to other genera and species will have their own posts at the genus-level.

I. Coccinella hasegawai.
One figure, by Kaiyodo (Capsule Q Animatales - Japanese Alps)

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II. Nine-spotted lady beetle, Coccinella novemnotata.
One figure, by XX.

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III. Seven-spotted lady beetle, Coccinella septempunctata.
These are figures specifically marketed as C. septempunctata or are strong representatives of this species. Several of the miscellaneous ones at the end of this thread may have justification for being placed here as well.

A. Figures on flowers.
While small, these might be my favorites!
1. Furuta (Insect Science)
2. Kabaya (Insect Directory)

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B. Other figures.
1. unknown manufacturer [from a dollar store set that contained many Bullyland knock-offs, including their C. septempunctata.]
2. 4D Famemaster (Beetle Collection)
3. Blip Toys (Nature's Wonders HD)
4. CollectA
5. Kitan Club - Nature Techni Colour

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1. Model kit by Heller. [added 6/5/2017]

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1. Small, boxed figure by an unknown Japanese manufacturer. [added 11/22/2017]



IV. Transverse lady beetle, Coccinella transversalis.
Two figures, both by Cadbury (Yowies). The figure on the left is from the Australian release; the one on the right is the UK release.

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V. Miscellaneous lady beetle figures!

A. LARGE plastic figures.
1. Imperial Toys
2. unknown manufacturer [pronotal markings suggestive of Hippodamia.]

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

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B. Non-plastic figurines and odd-ball figures.
1. Toy Major (Animal Planet Head Animal Tube - Insects) [this is the figure on the lid of the tube]
2. unknown polyresin figurine
3. Little Critterz (Northern Rose Collection)
4. Little Critterz (Little Critterz)
5. unknown manufacturer [possible dollhouse decor]

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C. Medium-sized figures.
1. Safari LTD (Hidden Kingdom Insects)
2. Safari LTD (Hidden Kingdom Insects)
3. unknown manufacturer
4. Toy Major [pronotal markings suggestive of Hippodamia.]
5. unknown manufacturer
6. AAA

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D. Slightly smaller figures...
All of these are from unknown manufacturers except for #1 which is by Silver Dolphin Books (Animal Adventures: Insects and Spiders). Figure #2 looks like a possible knock-off of the XX C. novemnotata.

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E. The smallest figures!.
These are all from unknown manufacturers, except:
1. Toy Major (Animal Planet Head Animal Tube - Insects)
2. Groovy Tube Books (Bug Blast!)
3. Safari LTD (Insects TOOB)
4. unknown manufacturer [but released in conjunction with Disney's A Bug's Life film]
5. Schleich (Minis)
6. Safari LTD (Good Luck Minis)

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F. Life Cycles.
1. Insect Lore [pronotal markings suggestive of Hippodamia.]
2. Safari LTD (Safariology)
3. Tedco Toys

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[bmathison1972]

A random generator selection, the horsehair crab, Erimacrus isenbeckii.

1. Kaiyodo
2. Kitan Club - Nature Techni Colour (Nature of Japan)

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[bmathison1972]

Another dragonfly, the mosaic darner Aeschna nigrofava.

1. Yujin (Insects of Japan)
2. Kaiyodo (Birdtales)

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[brontodocus]

Yes, I knew you would have multiple figures of coccinellids - but I counted 57 individual figures!!! The Blip Toys/Nature's Wonders HD figure is a nice little gem. Isn't that the same company as CollectA? I wish these older models were all being rereleased.

[bmathison1972]

Yes, I knew you would have multiple figures of coccinellids - but I counted 57 individual figures!!! The Blip Toys/Nature's Wonders HD figure is a nice little gem. Isn't that the same company as CollectA? I wish these older models were all being rereleased.

...that 56 doesn't include other defined genera ;-)

I am not sure if CollectA owns Blip Toys, and if they do, did they when I bought these?!?

[brontodocus]

Yes, I knew you would have multiple figures of coccinellids - but I counted 57 individual figures!!! The Blip Toys/Nature's Wonders HD figure is a nice little gem. Isn't that the same company as CollectA? I wish these older models were all being rereleased.

...that 56 doesn't include other defined genera ;-)

I am not sure if CollectA owns Blip Toys, and if they do, did they when I bought these?!?

Ah, I forgot, so there are even more coccinellids in your collection!
Honestly I know to little about how Blip Toys was bought by or renamed CollectA to be sure but the idea would be interesting to see those figures back, there are many ones I'm still missing...

[bmathison1972]

Yes, I knew you would have multiple figures of coccinellids - but I counted 57 individual figures!!! The Blip Toys/Nature's Wonders HD figure is a nice little gem. Isn't that the same company as CollectA? I wish these older models were all being rereleased.

...that 56 doesn't include other defined genera ;-)

I am not sure if CollectA owns Blip Toys, and if they do, did they when I bought these?!?

Ah, I forgot, so there are even more coccinellids in your collection!
Honestly I know to little about how Blip Toys was bought by or renamed CollectA to be sure but the idea would be interesting to see those figures back, there are many ones I'm still missing...

I am not sure of the extent of their insect collection but I think I am missing a monarch. Their other two butterflies are nice 'unique' figures.

[bmathison1972]

The green huntsman spider, Micrommata virescens.

One figure, by Bullyland.

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[brontodocus]

Yet another example of the awesomeness of Bullyland's spider figures - a remarkable contrast to many of their other figures.

[bmathison1972]

Yet another example of the awesomeness of Bullyland's spider figures - a remarkable contrast to many of their other figures.

I was going to make a similar comment...and they have three more coming out this year!

[bmathison1972]

Swallowtail butterflies in the genus Graphium.

I. The tailed jay, Graphium agememnon.
Both figures currently by Safari LTD:
1. Butterflies of the World Collector's Case
2. Authentics Butterflies

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II. Yellow zebra, Graphium deucalion. [added 9/9/2017]
One figure (a tentative ID of mine) by K&M International (Butterflies Nature Tube).



III. Common jay, Graphium doson.
One figure, by Yujin (Insects of Japan).

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IV. The common bluebottle, Graphium sarpedon.
1. Yujin (Insects of Japan)
2. Cadbury (Yowies)

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V. Purple-spotted swallowtail, Graphium weiskei.
1. Toy Major
2. unknown manufacturer [from a set of Club Earth knock-offs]
3. Toy Mayor [tentative identification]

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[bmathison1972]

Giant deep-sea isopods in the genus Bathynomus. Unless otherwise indicated, I am assuming unidenfied species represent B. giganteus.

I. Bathynomus doederleini.

A. Kaiyodo (Enoshima Aquarium).

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B. Kitan Club - Nature Techni Colour (Gusokumushi and Oogusokumushi Set).
These are three representatives of the same species from the same set. I assume the pale one is teneral.

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II. Bathynomus giganteus.

A. Life-sized (or nearly so).
One figure, from an unknown manufacturer.

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B. Larger figures, but not life-sized.
1. Nihon Auto Toy
2. Nature Techni Colour (Gusokumushi and Oogusokumushi Set)

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3. Ikimon - Nature Techni Colour (Deep Sea Creatures 2) [same sculpt as the Gusokumushi and Oogusokumushi Set figure, above; added 7/24/2017]



C. Smaller figures.
1. Takara Tomy A.R.T.S. (Residents of the Abyss)
2. Colorata (Deep Sea Creatures)
3. Safari LTD (Deep Sea Creatures TOOB)
4. Nihon Auto Toy
5. Kaiyodo (Deep Sea Life)
6. Takara Tomy A.R.T.S. (Shinkaizoku)

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[bmathison1972]

Copper butterflies in the genus Lycaena.

I. Lustrous copper, Lycaena cupreus. [added 5/13/2017]
One figure, a magnet by Doug Walpus Art Studio.

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II. Small copper, Lycaena phlaeus.

1. porcelain feve by an unknown French manufacturer
2. Toy Major [this figure appears to depict the variety schmedtii.]

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

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4. Magnet figure by Koro Koro [added 6/22/2017]

[brontodocus]

Ah, the giant isopods, absolutely wonderful!
The first B. giganteus figure (the big one of unknown brand) is new to me. The Kitan Club one looks almost as good as its life-size counterpart. I recently bought the T-A.R.T.S figure, too, and was surprised how good and nicely large it is. Oh, and I'm also surprised to see that the Colorata figure is larger than I thought. I have to say that I'm a bit disappointed by the Safari Ltd toob figure, though.

[bmathison1972]

Ah, the giant isopods, absolutely wonderful!
The first B. giganteus figure (the big one of unknown brand) is new to me. The Kitan Club one looks almost as good as its life-size counterpart. I recently bought the T-A.R.T.S figure, too, and was surprised how good and nicely large it is. Oh, and I'm also surprised to see that the Colorata figure is larger than I thought. I have to say that I'm a bit disappointed by the Safari Ltd toob figure, though.

Yes, the Safari figure is a disappointment, namely because it's missing a pair of legs. Maybe they'll get it right for an Incredible Creatures release? Nah, the IC line is reserved for baby goats, lion cubs, chickens, and rabbits...

[bmathison1972]

Centipedes! The random number generator landed on one of the Scolopendra species. Since all of my figures attributable to the genus or species are in that genus I will post here 1) Scolopendra identified to the species level, 2) unassigned figures most-certainly modeled after this genus, and 3) my remaining miscellaneous centipedes.

I. Scolopendra morsitans.
One figure, by Cadbury (Yowies).

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II. Scolopendra subspinipes.
Two figures, both by Kaiyodo (Toxic and Dangerous Animals).

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III. Scolopendra species.
These are miscellaneous figures I feel were modeled after members of this genus.

A. Large figure by Safari LTD (Smithsonian Insects).
The biggest and baddest of them all.

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B. Medium-sized figures.
1. AAA
2. 4D Famemaster

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C. Other figures.
1. unknown manufacturer [from a series released in conjunction with Disney's A Bug's Life.]
2. Safari LTD (Venomous Creatures TOOB)
3. New Ray
4. Safari LTD (Insects TOOB) - possible modeled after S. heros.

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IV. Miscellaneous centipedes.
Most of these are from random insect sets by unknown manufacturers I have acquired over the years. Exceptions include:
1. K&M International (Insects Nature Tube)
2. Groovy Tube Books (Bug Blast!)
3. Discovery Kids (Disgusting Facts Kit)

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Oops, I forgot a couple small vintage figures:

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A couple large figures. [updated 11/22/2017]

1. vintage figure from unknown manufacturer
2. Target Brands (Hide and Eek Boutique)

[bmathison1972]

The emperor gum moth, Opodiphthera eucalypti.

One figure, by Cadbury (Yowies).

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[bmathison1972]

The great blackvein, Aporia agathon.

One figure, by Steal Street. I have to admit, this is a tentative identification and another that appears to have the dorsal side painted like the underside...

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[bmathison1972]

Another dragonfly, the common skimmer Orthetrum albistylum speciosum.

One figure, by Yujin (Insects of Japan).

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