Chocolate Dung Beetles: from the Museum to the Movies
MAKING OF THE SCARAB BEETLE
The TV show, 'Extreme Chocolate Makers' filmed me making this piece which made it harder than usual to concentrate 🎥
To add to the tension I couldn't just make any old beetle - I was making a VERY specific dung beetle.
They have EXACTLY 18 grooves running down the wings.
My collaborator, the entomology expert, Sally-Ann Spence had shared her time, specimens and her home (including her destructive and adorable pet Jackdaw).
So I couldn't deliver 17 or 19 stripes.
It had to be 18!
And yes, Mr Camera man, I can stop pulling my 'concentrating face' and do that again with my arm behind my head.
MOVIE ROLES
The jewel coloured versions below are currently being dressed into the set of a Horror Movie
But we can't share details yet...
'or we would have to kill you'
AND
For years fans of the movie 'Coraline' (Tim Burton 2009) have tagged these gorgeous beasties as:
'Cocoa Beetles from Zanzibar'
I had to rewatch the movie to get the reference, so now am both horrified and deeply proud. Why proud? well, Mr Burton is a favourite of mine. I brought my kids up on his movies.
Can you tell?
THE SCIENCE BIT
This piece has been created in collaboration with entomologist Sally-Ann Spence FRES FLS, an entomologist who is passionate about this important group of insects and actively works to conserve and promote them.
Sally-Ann is an Honorary Associate of the Oxford University Museum of Natural History. She specialises in land management, biodiversity, and ecosystem functioning.
This rare species of dung beetle inhabits unimproved pasture, moor, coastal grassland and coastal heathland in Britain.
Threats to this species include removal of livestock, change of land use, soil disturbance and insecticide treatments. Its conservation requires environmentally sensitive livestock farming.
I didn’t know there were dung beetles in Britain! How about a dark chocolate Stag Beetle?
Dung beetles are wonderful! I remember this project and how exciting it was. Seeing the resulting exquisitely perfect artwork is so good. Have found 23 species of dung beetles in Sussex, and they definitely deserve the honour of a chocolate portrait.
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