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Mucuna with insects in different life stages
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Mucuna with insects in different life stages
Hand-coloured engraving based on Maria Sibylla Merian watercolour. From Metamorphosis insectorum Surinamensium, 1726 edition. Date: 1726
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Media ID 14238280
© Mary Evans / Natural History Museum
1726 18th Century Adult Arthropod Arthropoda Caterpillar Edition Eudicot Eurosid Fabaceae Fabales Fabidae Hand Coloured Hexapod Hexapoda Insecta Larva Larvae Legume Leguminosae Lepidoptera Lepidopteran Maria Sibylla Merian Metamorphosis Metamorphosis Insectorum Surinamensium Pupa Rosid Watercolor Angiospermae Dicot Dicotyledon Invertebrata Life Cycle Magnoliophyta Metamorphosing
EDITORS COMMENTS
This hand-coloured engraving, based on a watercolor by the renowned naturalist Maria Sibylla Merian, depicts various life stages of insects feeding on the flowers and leaves of the Mucuna plant, a type of legume or fabaceous plant. The illustration, taken from Merian's seminal work "Metamorphosis insectorum Surinamensium" published in 1726, provides a fascinating glimpse into the complex relationships between plants and insects during the 18th century. At the center of the image, an adult Mucuna plant is shown in full bloom, its vibrant yellow and red flowers attracting a diverse array of insects. To the left, a caterpillar can be seen munching on the plant's leaves, while to the right, a pupa rests on a flower, ready to transform into an adult. In the foreground, various insects, including beetles, flies, and butterflies, are shown in different stages of their life cycles, from larvae to adults. The intricate details of the engraving reveal the precise observations Merian made during her extensive travels to Surinam, a Dutch colony in South America, where she studied the natural world and documented the metamorphosis of various insects. Merian's work was groundbreaking for its time, as she challenged the prevailing belief that plants and animals existed in isolation from one another, instead demonstrating the intricate interdependencies that exist between different organisms. This image not only showcases the beauty and diversity of the natural world but also serves as a testament to Merian's remarkable contributions to the field of natural history. The intricate details of the engraving, combined with the historical significance of Merian's work, make this a valuable and intriguing addition to any collection of natural history or botanical illustrations.
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