Presentation

Hi everyone!

I'm a new member. First introduction post. I'm actually a biologist and wildlife artist with a very broad range of interests.

I profess that I have always liked insects and other arthropods and found them fascinating. I am not an entomologist by any stretch of the imagination, though I have a strong basic knowledge of insects and their relatives.

My primary areas of expertise are actually marine biology and herpetology. That said, I like all animal related fields.

I actually joined this site for a very odd reason. Hopefully the members will excuse my motives and perhaps even indulge me.

I'm looking to procure a preserved dragonfly for an art piece I am creating. I realize that these insects tend to loose their pigmentation once killed.

That is of no concern to me whatsoever. I am actually hoping to find a specimen that I can paint to simulate a species found in Madagascar.

Insect supply houses tend to have minimum orders of $35 and often sell specimens in lots. I just need a dragonfly. I'm happy to pay for a specimen.

I'm doing a very unique mixed media art form. The artwork is 2D turning into 3D. Sort of coming to life off of the page.

I my case off of a wooden background. I do pyrography. (Woodburned art). This project is mixed media. I will have a panther chameleon (a species native to Madagascar) coming to life as a 3D relief sculpture. I have two wooden branches that will also materialize out of the artwork.

The chameleon will be "shooting" his tongue out at an insect perched on the second smaller branch. In this case a dragonfly. Hence my need for a single preserved specimen.

I could make one from clay and resin techniques. But you can't really beat nature and it wouldn't look as good as the real insect.

I can sculpt a chameleon that would fool even the experts. I paint and airbrush with the best of them. I'll use resin and micro painting to create a photorealistic tongue and details.

The one thing I cannot recreate is the bug. Not in a way that would sell it as a legitimate insect.

I can however paint and dye the dragonfly with great precision. I can make the eyes refract light. I can do translucent colours in the wings. I can paint the body with great precision.

So that's my basic story. I enjoy insects. Once I procure a dragonfly I want to remain a member of course. I like discussions about these fascinating creatures. I enjoy reading and learning more. And I have kept insects as well.

In fact do not tell Guinness but I purchased an African Praying Mantis in 2004 from a reptile show in Orlando Florida. Beautiful and amazing. According to the record books I was able to look up the longest lived captive specimen lived 11 months and 9 days.

Mine lived 14.5 months. She got huge! Fascinating to observe in the vivarium.

Anyway, sorry for the long winded novel. Thank you for having me here!

Erik.

hello, this looks similar to a box elder bug or box elder beetle, a common beetle Ive seen in Utah. Perhaps that is somewhere to start to look.

Good to see you here Jean !

I have also been nicely surprised to see you here Olivier. I had recognized your famous avatar! 

I must be here, as I start Catocala, and the best people are here!

My name is Timo liese I collect beetle and Moth

Timo

Hi Everyone! I live in the UK, and have been travelling the world with my wife at every opportunity, with a particular interest in Phasmatodea and Lepidoptera (specifically Moths). Most places are specifically chosen to look into occurrences, and although we have travelled in any direction over the years, I am particularly interested in Neotropical species. In 1980 I formed the Phasmid Study Group, which meets twice annually at London's Natural History Museum, researching old records and trying to establish research cultures for full reference, and our Group is World Wide these days, but members are mostly in Europe. Between 2007-2013, I also took over local County Records for Moths, monitoring species and distributions here, so inevitably I transferred the same interests to Moths wherever we visited on holidays. I am a member of the www.ipernity.com photo web-site, and have published Moth reference picture sets there as I go. There are also albums which include location pictures and other wildlife as we see them, and there are many other sets which I am working through to add as an when I can.