Yan Bingwu (Chinese, B. 1954) & Yang Wenqing (Chinese, B. 1951) "Dogbane Beetle" Signed lower right. Watercolor on Silk/Rice Paper. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting originally appeared on the Fleetwood First Day Cover for the 33¢ Dogbane Beetle Classic Collection Series stamp issued October 1, 1999. The Dogbane is a species of leaf beetle from the family Chrysomelidae and is one of 1,400 species found in North America. Classified as Chrysochus auratus, the Dogbane Beetle is ovoid in shape and boasts antennae about half as long as its body. Although many leaf beetles feed on the leaves of specific plants, the Dogbane Beetle consumes plant roots instead of leaves. Leaf beetles proceed through four distinct stages in their life cycle -- egg, larva, pupa and adult. They lay eggs in groups on the underside of food plant leaves. Depending on the temperature, the eggs hatch in two to seven days and soon afterwards the tiny larvae begin feeding on their nutrient-rich eggshells. When all the eggshells are consumed, the larvae start to eat the leaves of the host plant. The next stage of the cycle is the pupa stage, in which the larvae enter an inactive state of metamorphosis, after which they emerge as adults, the final stage of their life cycle. The Dogbane Beetle's life cycle differs from the typical leaf beetle. The adults lay their eggs on the underside of dogbane leaves, where they're enclosed in a cone of fecal matter that the hatching larvae must chew through to escape. Yan Bingqu, a native of Beijing, was born in 1954. He is a master of art and craft as a stamp designer at the Department of Ministry of Posts Telecommunications. He won the best stamp painting award both in 1980 and 1982. His main works of stamp paintings are "Chinese Ancient Scientists", "Chinese Ancient Bronze Vessels", "Mountain Tai" and "Scenery of Emei Mountain." The commemorative stamp "Dr. Norman Bethune" he painted was adopted by Canadian government. His art works were sent several times to exhibitions at home and abroad and collected by National Art Gallery. He is a member of the Beijing Artists Association. Yang Wenqing was born in Beijing in 1951. He graduated from the oil painting department of the Central Academy of Fine Arts in 1978. Beginning in 1986, Yang became a professional stamp artist. His stunning designs included many of China's scenic mountains and rivers, including Husashan Mountain, the two Hengshan mountains, the Changjiang River and the Yangtze River. Image Size: 14.75 x 12.25 in. Overall Size: 14.75 x 12.25 in. Unframed. (B16497)