Mathison Museum of Natural History

[bmathison1972]

Species: Blapton ramentaceus (Germar, 1837)

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Play Visions
Series: Exotic Insects
Year of Production: 1998
Size/Scale: Body length (excluding appendages) 4.5 cm. I cannot find published measurements for this species but looking at photographs online, I estimate the figure is 5:1-4:1 in scale.
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Unique
Miscellaneous Notes: This figure is only stamped as an 'assassin bug' and the identification is my own. For years on the forums, I had this identified as Sphagiastes ramentaceus, which I have recently come to learn is an outdated name, as Sphagiastes is now considered a synonym of Blapton.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Southern Africa
Habitat: Savanna
Diet: Other insects
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Not Evaluated
Miscellaneous Notes: I had difficulty researching information on this species. Like some other reduviids, B. ramentaceus mimics dead leaves or flowers allowing it to ambush potential prey.

[Isidro]

An assasin bug figure, and not badly done. This turn interesting. More insects that are not the tiring excess of scarab beetles should be done.

[bmathison1972]

Species: Morpho rhetenor augustinae Le Cerf, 1925

About the Figure:
Manufacturers: K&M International; Insect Lore
Series: Butterflies Mini Polybag (K&M); Big Bunch-O Butterflies (IL)
Years of Production: unknown (K&M); 2013 (IL)
Size/Scale: Wingspan 4.0 cm for a scale of 1:3.3
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Very rare
Miscellaneous Notes: Neither figure is identified at the species level. My initial identification was Morpho diana (see below) and is based on the Toy Major figure which shares a similar color pattern (although the Toy Major figure, which I have yet to acquire, is more accurate for the species). As discussed on the forum before, companies that make sets of butterflies are notorious for copying one another. From what I can tell, the TM figure started the trend with this particular color pattern. To complicate things, one could even argue that the TM figure is based on the Club Earth Morpho, which I have identified as M. cypris. Researching the pedigrees of toy butterflies can sometimes seem like an exercise in futility...
The figure on the upper left is by K&M International; the one on the lower right is by Insect Lore. The two figures are identical and without unique markings. I only know which is which because I can compare the nuances of the paint application with images in earlier posts on the forum! Whether Insect Lore copied K&M (I do know the K&M model came first) or they both outsourced the same manufacturer, I do not know. Insect Lore also made a larger version of this species in the Big Bunch-O Butterflies collection.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Venezuela (Orinoco Delta)
Habitat: Swamps, mangrove forests
Diet: Larval host plants unknown (other members of the rhetenor-complex feed on plants in the families Fabaceae (legumes) and Arecaceae (palms)); adults feed on decaying fruit and tree sap
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Not Evaluated
Miscellaneous Notes: This subspecies has a confusing and controversial taxonomic history. Historically it was known as Morpho diana, but that name is now considered synonymous with M. augustinae, which has been relegated to a subspecies of M. rhetenor. The systematics of members of the rhetenor-complex is challenging, made more so by the morphological diversity of the group. Contrary to rumors in online chat rooms and forums, M. r. augustinae is not extinct.

[bmathison1972]

Species: Rosalia batesi Harold, 1877

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Kaiyodo
Series: Chocoegg Animatales Series 5
Year of Production: 2001
Size/Scale: Body length (excluding appendages) 4.0 cm for a scale of 2:1-1.5:1
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Very rare
Miscellaneous Notes: Being one of the original Chocoegg Animatales figures, some assembly is required. Yujin also made this species, in the 1:1 scale.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Japan
Habitat: Montane and subalpine forests
Diet: Larvae bore in dead wood of several hardwood trees, including Salix (willow), Juglans (walnut), Pterocarya (wingnuts), Betula (birch), Carpinus (hornbeans), Fagus (beech), Ulmus (elm), Magnolia (magnolia), Cercidiphyllum (katsura), Acer (maple), Hovenia (raisin tree), and Styrax (storax); also lumber and firewood. Adults feed on flowers.
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Not Evaluated
Miscellaneous Notes: The length of time for larval development of R. batesi is unknown, but it is believed larvae are capable of hibernating in their host substrate, thus taking multiple years for adults to emerge in some cases. Adults have emerged indoors from wood that has not been outside in over five years, suggesting that larvae may be capable of slowing and prolonging larval development in dry wood.

[bmathison1972]

Species: Pomoxis annularis Rafinesque, 1818 (white crappie)

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Toy Fish Factory
Series: American Anglers
Year of Production: 2017
Size/Scale: Body length 6.5 cm for a scale of 1:3.5-1:8
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Unique
Miscellaneous Notes: This figure was only marketed as a crappie, but after discussions with forum member sbell, we feel the white crappie is the best option for this color pattern. Interestingly, the same sculpt was used for the black crappie (P. nigromaculatus) in the original Replica Toy Fish line. TFF figures often have a simpler paint job than their RTF counterparts.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: North America; native to Great Lakes, Hudson Bay, and Mississippi River Basins and Gulf Slope, introduced to many other parts of the US and southern Canada
Habitat: Large lakes, reservoirs, and rivers, usually above the thermocline
Diet: Young feed on zooplankton; adults feed on small fish and freshwater invertebrates
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Least Concern
Miscellaneous Notes: Pomoxis annularis is a popular game fish in North America. Also, the fish doesn't retain mercury, so there is little risk with eating it frequently.

[bmathison1972]

Species: Teleogryllus commodus (Walker, 1869) (black field cricket)

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Cadbury
Series: Yowies Series 1
Year of Production: 1997
Size/Scale: Body length (excluding appendages) 3.5 cm for a scale of 1.2:1
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Unique
Miscellaneous Notes: Being an original Australian Yowie, some assembly is required.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Australia; introduced to New Zealand
Habitat: Forests, heath, agricultural fields, pastures, parks, gardens
Diet: Non-discriminant herbivore
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Not Evaluated
Miscellaneous Notes: Teleogryllus commodus is considered an agricultural pest in Australia and New Zealand, especially of cereal and grain crops.

[bmathison1972]

Species: Gonepteryx rhamni (Linnaeus, 1758) (common brimstone)

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Bullyland
Series: Butterflies on Strings
Year of Production: 1998
Size/Scale: Wingspan 5.5 cm, within scale 1:1
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Unique
Miscellaneous Notes: The 'Butterflies on Strings' collections were two sets of butterflies released by Bullyland. The figures had a loop of chord attached to the top of the thorax via a screw (hence the unsightly hole), so they can hang from things. There are eight figures in this set, with four sculpts shared among them (and the shape of the wings is not accurate for this spcies). The set was also sold as 'swingers', figures suspended on a wire attached to a base.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Palearctic
Habitat: Woodlands, wetlands, shrubby grasslands, heathland, agricultural fields, parks, gardens
Diet: Larvae feed on Frangula alnus (alder buckhorn) and Rhamnus carthartica (common buckhorn); adults are attracted to flowers
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Least Concern
Miscellaneous Notes: Gonepteryx rhamni has a long lifespan for a lepidopteran. Females lay their eggs on host plants in the spring, usually around April or May depending on the latitude. Eggs are laid singly over a protracted period. Larvae have five instars and usually feed from May to July. Pupation lasts about two weeks and adults are usually seen from June to August and will continue to feed until September. The time between oviposition and emergence from the pupa is on average 50 days. In September, adults find a secluded place to hibernate, such as among ivy, grasses, and other vegetation. Adults overwinter and emerge the following spring. Adults can live for about 11 months, with much of that spent hibernating.

[bmathison1972]

Species: Chalcosoma moellenkampi Kolbe, 1900

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Sega
Series: Mushi King - Flying Beetles
Year of Production: 2006
Size/Scale: Wingspan 10.5 cm. Body length (including horns) 6.0 cm, for a scale of 1:2
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Uncommon
Miscellaneous Notes: This is the third time we've seen C. moellenkampi in the Museum. Sega released at least two sets of flying beetles; one in 2005 and one in 2006. The species composition is not the same in the two sets, and Chalcosoma moellenkampi was only in the 2006 collection.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Borneo
Habitat: Rainforests, palm plantations
Diet: Larvae develop in rotting logs; adults feed on tree sap
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Not Evaluated
Miscellaneous Notes: The weight of a major male C. moellenkampi precludes them from being efficient fliers. Minor males may actually be more mobile, allowing them to disperse their genetic material easier.

[bmathison1972]

Species: Vespa velutina Lepeletier, 1836 (yellow-legged hornet; Asian hornet)

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Break Co. Ltd.
Series: Biological Pictorial Book - Hornets
Year of Production: unknown
Size/Scale: Body length 3.7 cm for an average scale of 1.5:1 (1.8:1-1.2:1 depending on the caste member one considers the figure to be)
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Unique
Miscellaneous Notes: Figures in this set were sold as 'strap' figures; the chord unscrews from the underside of the insect, leaving a small, unobtrusive hole. There have been a lot of vespids produced lately with the Diversity of Life collections by Bandai, but I believe this figure is still unique for its species.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Native to Central and Southeast Asia; introduced to and established in Japan, South Korea, and Europe.
Habitat: Forests, fields, agricultural land, parks, gardens; nests are usually constructed in trees or on manmade structures
Diet: Larvae are feed insects provided by adults; adults are predaceous on other insects
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Not Evaluated
Miscellaneous Notes: Vespa velutina is considered an invasive species outside of its native range, especially in its role as a pest of commercial Apis mellifera (western honey bee) colonies. It was first detected in South Korea in 2003, followed by France (2004), Japan (2010), Spain (2010), Portugal (2011), Belgium (2011), Italy (2012), Germany (2014), Majorca (2015), England (2016), Channel Islands (2016), and the Netherlands (2018).

[bmathison1972]

Species: Lycosa tarantula (Linnaeus, 1758) (European wolf spider; tarantula)

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Takara Tomy A.R.T.S.
Series: Venomous Spiders
Year of Production: 2010
Size/Scale: Body length 3.0 cm, within scale 1:1 for a large female
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Uncommon to rare
Miscellaneous Notes: This is a fairly good likeness for the species, especially for its size; Takara even made a pretty good attempt at getting the eye arrangement correct, something few companies do. Figures in this set come with a flat, round, black base with the spider's Latin and Japanese names and degree of toxicity using skulls-and-crossbones in a 1-5 scale (see inset).

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Mediterranean Europe, North Africa, Middle East
Habitat: Scrubland, deserts, fields; usually in rocky places with sparse vegetation cover
Diet: Insects and other arthropods
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Not Evaluated
Miscellaneous Notes: Lycosa tarantula is commonly called the 'tarantula' in Europe; however, in the United States that term is used for mygalomorph spiders in the family Theraphosidae. It gets that name from the Italian city of Taranto, in the Apulia region where the spider is familiar. Historical superstition tells that the bite of L. tarantula can cause a disease known as tarantism, which could only be cured from doing a frantic dance known as the tarantella. In reality, the venom of L. tarantula is fairly mild to a human, often considered to be no more painful than a bee sting.

[bmathison1972]

Species: Dynastes neptunus (Quensel, 1817) (Neptune beetle)

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Yell
Series: Beetles on Wood
Year of Production: 2020
Size/Scale: Body length (including horns) 6.5 cm for a scale of 1:2-1:2.5 for a major male
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Common
Miscellaneous Notes: This is our fourth look at D. neptunus in the Museum. Yell's 'Beetles on Wood' collection features many of the typical scarabaeoid species made by Japanese companies. The figures are sold in large slotted plastic balls (similar to cat toys) and come with a real piece of wood to display them with. I took it upon myself to use an adhesive to permanently affix the beetles to their piece of wood, making mini dioramas out of them.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela
Habitat: Rainforests
Diet: Larvae feed in rotting wood within treeholes of living trees, including Alchornea, Ocotea, and Urera; adults attracted to overripe fruit and sap flows.
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Not Evaluated
Miscellaneous Notes: Dynastes neptunus is one of the longest beetle species, with major males reaching a lengh of 16.0 cm (including horns). The related D. hercules is longer, however, at 18.8 cm.

[bmathison1972]

Species: Muraenesox cinereus (Forsskål, 1775) (daggertooth pike conger; darkfin pike eel)

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Kaiyodo
Series: Kyoto Aquarium
Year of Production: 2012
Size/Scale: Bottlecap base 3.5 cm in diameter. Height (including bottlecap base) 6.0 cm. Height (excluding bottlecap base) 5.0 cm. Scale difficult to calculate since the animal is not complete. Using the head as a metric, from the snout to the back of the eye (n=1.0 cm), scale approximately 1:7.5
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Unique
Miscellaneous Notes: The sandy base is removable from the bottlecap base; the animal is removable from the sandy base, but is incomplete.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Indo-West Pacific
Habitat: Marine and brackish waters, estuaries, sometimes freshwater; usually in areas with soft bottoms to depths of 800 meters
Diet: Small fish, crustaceans, mollusks
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Least Concern
Miscellaneous Notes: Muraenesox cinereus is an ambush predator, hidding in burrows in the sand and catching small benthic fish and marine invertebrates that pass too close. In turn, M. cinereus is itself commonly eaten, as it is an economically important commercial fish, especially in China, Taiwan, and Japan.

[bmathison1972]

Species: Urodacus armatus Pocock, 1888 (yellow sand scorpion; inland desert scorpion)

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Cadbury
Series: UK Yowies Series 1; Yowies Series 3
Years of Production: 1997; 1999
Size/Scale: Length of Australian figure (not body length) 7.5 cm; carapace length 1.5 cm for a scale of 2.8:1-1.5:1. Length of UK figure (not body length) 4.5 cm; carapace length 1.0 cm for a scale of 2:1-1:1. Scale should be taken with caution as both figures are somewhat stylized.
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Very rare
Miscellaneous Notes: The figure on the left is the Australian release from 1999; it requires assembly. The one on the right is the UK release from 1997; it is a solid piece of PVC. The UK figure was not marketed at the species level, and I have allied it with the Australian figure since it was the only scorpion produced in the Yowies series, even though the two were not released in corresponding sets.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Southern and central Australia
Habitat: Deserts, sand dunes; usually in sandy areas with rocky cover
Diet: Arthropods
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Not Evaluated
Miscellaneous Notes: Urodacus armatus is a burrowing species. Burrows usually occur under rocks; they are loosely spiraling and about 36 cm deep.

[bmathison1972]

Species: †Regaliceratops peterhewsi Brown et Henderson, 2015

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Safari Ltd.
Series: Wild Safari Prehistoric World
Year of Production: 2018
Size/Scale: Body length (excluding nasal horn) about 16.0 cm for a scale of approximately 1:25-1:32
Frequency of species in toy/figure (at time of posting): Very rare
Miscellaneous Notes: Although having only been formally described in 2015, there are three standard-sized figures of this species available. The other two were made by CollectA (2017) and Creative Beast (2021), the latter of which requires minimal assembly and is articulated.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Late Cretaceous (Middle Maastrichtian) of present-day Canada
Habitat: Forests, swamps, grasslands, riparian areas
Diet: Plants
IUCN Status (at time of posting): N/A [prehistoric]
Miscellaneous Notes: Regaliceratops peterhewsi is known only from the holotype skull, which was discovered in the St. Mary River Formation in Alberta, Canada. Still, the skull is almost complete and well-preserved, giving us a fairly good idea of what at least the head of the animal looked like.

[bmathison1972]

Species: Ornithodoros sp. (soft tick)

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Play Visions
Series: Fleas, Lice, and Ticks
Year of Production: 1996
Size/Scale: Body length 3.5 cm. Scale species dependent but figure 4.3:1 for the larger species
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Unique
Miscellaneous Notes: This figure was stamped as a 'chigger', which is a misidentification. Adult soft ticks are not very diverse morphologically, and this figure could represent any one of several genera. In keeping with the theme of the collection, the designation of Ornithodoros is my own, as it is the most medically-important genus.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Much of the world in tropical and temperate climates; medically important species occur in western and southern North America, Central and South America, Caribbean, Africa, Mediterranean Europe, Middle East, and Central Asia
Habitat: Highly variable, usually in secluded areas such as rodent and tortoise burrows, caves, and crevices in abandoned or poorly-maintained manmade structures (e.g., rustic cabins)
Diet: Blood of reptiles, birds, and mammals
IUCN Status (at time of posting): N/A [species-dependent, but probably all are Not Evaluated]
Miscellaneous Notes: The primary medical importance of ticks in the genus Ornithodoros is the transmission of tick-borne relapsing fever spirochetes in the genus Borrelia.

[bmathison1972]

Species: Reticulitermes sp. (subterranean termite)

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Club Earth
Series: Ants and Termites
Year of Production: unknown
Size/Scale: Body length (to the tips of the wings) 5.0 cm for a scale of 5:1
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Unique
Miscellaneous Notes: This figure was only marked as a 'subterranean termite' and can represent any one of a number of species. Other figures in the collection represented North American taxa, but that still leaves seven options. It was probably based on either R. flavipes (eastern subterranean termite) or R. hesperus (western subterranean termite).

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Holarctic
Habitat: Highly variable; colonies are usually built underground, with shelter tubes made of soil connecting the colony to feeding sites, such as dead or living trees and wood in manmade structures
Diet: Wood
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Not Evaluated
Miscellaneous Notes: Although Reticulitermes species eat wood, they cannot digest wood on their own. The termites rely on symbiotic protozoans, bacteria, and archaea to help break down the wood. Termites do possess cellulases in their midgut, which release some glucose for immediate absorption, but the remainder of the wood goes to the hindgut where it is processed by the symbionts. Symbionts break down lignocellulose into simple sugars and short-chain fatty acids; the symbionts use the simple sugars for their own needs and the fatty acids are taken up by the termite host. Most xylanase, endoglucanase, and exoglucanase activity occurs in the hindgut and is attributed to the symbionts. Termites are not born with their endosymbionts; they acquire them from feeding on anal fluids from adult members of the colony.

[bmathison1972]

Species: Daphnia pulex Leydig, 1860 (water flea)

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Kaiyodo
Series: Enoshima Aquarium
Year of Production: 2011
Size/Scale: Bottlecap base 3.5 cm. Total figure height (including base) 6.0 cm. Body length 3.0 cm for a scale of 150:1-10:1
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Uncommon to rare
Miscellaneous Notes: Some assembly is required and the animal is removable from its base (see inset).

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Cosmopolitan
Habitat: Still freshwater, including ponds, lakes, swamps, ephemeral pools, poorly-maintained swimming pools
Diet: Phytoplankton, algae, bacteria, detritus
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Not Evaluated
Miscellaneous Notes: Daphnia pulex can reproduce both sexually and asexually by parthenogenesis. Asexual reproduction usually takes place in the summer when nutritive resources are abundant. Sexual reproduction usually occurs in the winter months or during periods of overcrowding, accumulation of wastes, and when food is less available.

[bmathison1972]

Species: Vespa mandarinia Smith, 1852 (Asian giant hornet)

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Re-Ment
Series: Insect Kingdom Magnets
Year of Production: 2010
Size/Scale: Body length 4.0 cm, within scale 1:1
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Uncommon
Miscellaneous Notes: This is the second time we have seen V. mandarinia in the Museum. As the name of the set implies, figures in this set have a (relatively non-obtrusive) magnet on the ventral side, allowing them to adhere to vertical metal surfaces.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Southeast Asia, Japan; recently established in the Pacific Northwest of North America
Habitat: Forests
Diet: Larvae are feed insects provided by adults; adults are predaceous on insects, but will also eat tree sap and overripe fruit. Adults will also eat Vespa amino acid mixture produced by the larvae.
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Not Evaluated
Miscellaneous Notes: Vespa mandarinia has one of the most potent stings of any wasp, even for those without allergies. The venom contains a mastoparan (a cytolytic peptide) that damages tissues by stimulating a phospholipase action. It has been estimated that about 40 people a year die from V. mandarinia stings in Japan alone; those deaths have been attributed to kidney failure, anaphylactic shock, heart attack, and multi-organ failure, usually after multiple stings.

[bmathison1972]

Species: Antilope cervicapra (Linnaeus, 1758) (blackbuck)

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: CollectA
Series: Wildlife
Year of Production: 2013
Size/Scale: Height at shoulder 4.5 cm for a scale of 1:16.4-1:18.6
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Very rare
Miscellaneous Notes: In 2018 Colorata would make a miniature version of this species for their Oriental Region box set (which might actually scale better with many standard-sized animal figures; I don't have it so I am not sure).

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Indian Subcontinent
Habitat: Dry deciduous forests, open woodlands, semi-deserts, thornscrub
Diet: Grasses, cereals
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Least Concern
Miscellaneous Notes: Antilope cervicapra shows sexual dimorphism with regards to color; it's one of the few antelope species that do. As the common name suggests, it is the male that is mostly black. The females, which may or may not have horns, are mostly yellow-beige.

[bmathison1972]

Species: Beckius beccarii koletta (Voirin, 1978)

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Sega
Series: Mushi King - standard series, small
Year of Production: unknown
Size/Scale: Body length (including cephalic horn) 5.0 cm for a scale of 1:1-1:1.5 (closer to 1:1.5 for a major male)
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Very rare (see below)
Miscellaneous Notes: This species was marketed as B. koletta, although that species is usually considered a subspecies or synonym of B. beccarii, which has been made a couple times before; the DeAgostini figure was highlighted in the Museum on July 6, 2021, and in hindsight, that figure might also have been painted after B. b. koletta. This particular Sega collection also has the nominate form, and it will be reviewed on the Museum at a later date. The Sega 'small standard series' were 10 sets of 10 figures each, for a total of 100 figures representing roughly 75 species of Lucanidae and dynastine Scarabaeidae. The dates of release are currently unknown to me (c. 2008). The figures were produced in conjunction with Bandai and came with Pokemon-style playing cards. At the time of this writing, I think I have all but two of the species. For a review of the sets, please see here.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: New Guinea
Habitat: Rainforests
Diet: Larvae develop in rotting wood; adults feed on tree sap
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Not Evaluated
Miscellaneous Notes: Beckius beccarii koletta was originally described in the related genus Eupatorus. Both B. b. koletta and the nominate subspecies occur on the island of New Guinea. Beckius b. beccari has orangish elytra with a dark midline, while B. b. koletta has solid dark brown elytra. I have had trouble researching information on this species complex and I am unaware of intergrades or areas of geographic or ecological overlap between the populations.