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Japanese Rhinoceros Beetle

Japanese Rhinoceros Beetle line art illustration (click image to enlarge)

Japanese Rhinoceros Beetle full color illustration (click image to enlarge)

Artist's notes:

The Japanese Rhinoceros Beetle was completed on 12.27.2011. Several years ago, I drew a series of beetles in the hopes that there might be some interest, as I had found in drawing frogs, turtles, butterflies, tigers, etc. I was surprised when the beetle fanciers really didn't have much reaction to the images (perhaps they were not as high quality as I hoped!) Either way, I have never really returned to the subject until now when an Australian benefactor commissioned me to draw three various insects, the Allomyrina dichotoma being one. Looking at them side by side, I now see that the older drawings are not as finished as this one is. Either way, I would imagine I might now draw a few more of these fascinating insects now that perhaps I have developed the skills to render them more accurately.

Information about the Japanese Rhinoceros Beetle:

The Japanese Rhinoceros or Horned Beetle is native to several countries of Asia, including China, Korea Taiwan and of course Japan. They are found in forests, where they feed upon rotten fruits, decaying wood, nectar, sap and other vegetable matter. They are quite popular in the pet industry and are often kept in homes. Unfortunately, they are also often used for gambling exploiting the beetle's natural instincts to fight one another. In some communities this is a chronic problem causing many to lose a good deal of money. The beetles are relatively short-lived, with the males dying after mating a few times and the females dying shortly after they lay eggs. They are not endangered, but like many animal in Asia the natural environments they rely upon are quickly disappearing.