LEGO® Ideas 21342 The Insect Collection Is A Marvelous Addition Towards The Last Breath Of Summer
It is now late Summer 2023 and Fall is just around the corner. These three beautiful insects, and insects in general, represent the changes of Mother Nature and are frankly stunning display pieces.
An Overview Of The Set
The LEGO® Ideas’ The Insect Collection 21342 is perfect for bug enthusiasts of all ages, this captivating set includes lifelike, buildable figures of a blue morpho butterfly, a Hercules beetle, and a Chinese mantis, each in their natural settings. Transform your room into a mini museum with these articulated models! The blue morpho butterfly boasts adjustable wings, designed with various hues of LEGO® blue pieces, and is showcased alongside a detailed flower and a honeybee. The Hercules beetle model comes with detachable wings and iconic male horns, capturing the essence of this mighty insect. And don’t forget the highly articulated female Chinese mantis, which shares her habitat with a 7-spotted ladybug.
What Are The Three LEGO® Insects Inside?
Blue Morpho Butterfly: This beautiful butterfly is native to the South American and Central American rain forests. It is one of the largest butterflies in the world with an almost 8-inch wingspan. Like most butterflies, they use a proboscis to feed on flowers and drink nectar. Seeing a Blue Morpho, in many cultures, is a sign of good fortune.
Hercules Beetle: A type of Rhinoceros Beetle, this insect is one of the longest beetles in the world – reaching a massive 7 inches long with its developed horn. It can also lift 850 times its body weight. In terms of pure speculation, if a human could lift 850 times their body weight, a person weighing 70 kilograms (approximately 154 pounds) would theoretically be able to lift 59,500 kilograms (approximately 131,175 pounds). That’s roughly equivalent to lifting two full-grown adult male elephants, or an M1 Abrams tank, which weighs about 60 tons! These marvelous creatures are native to Central and South American rainforests as well. They don’t bite, but the grip from their legs is quite strong!
Chinese Mantis: This is the largest species of Mantis in North America. As the name suggests, it originated in China. However, in 1896, it was actually introduced in America and has since lived here ever since. It can grow up to 5 inches in length (yikes) and it is a carnivorous insect. This means its diet is insects, small animals, and from time-to-time even a hummingbird. Like an owl, this insect can turn its head 180 degrees to scan its surroundings.
What Is LEGO® Ideas 21342 Like To Build?
The set is a surprising 1,111 pieces which means it will take an average builder anywhere from 3-5 hours on the high-end, which is a very rough estimate. Each bug build has its own stand where the featured insect is prominently displayed. These insects were picked deliberately as their organic counterparts are vibrant, large, and eye-catching. Each platform the respective insect is displayed on is a cool, black octagonal stand – you can easily separate these out and place them on bookshelves for a mueseum-esque feel. I sincerely enjoyed the build, and the final product is made for adults fans of LEGO®. Lastly, if you throw these inside a plastic case, it can look like the real thing.
This set is a certified Baumlinks buy!