I am a Colorado mountain girl and for the most part bugs and I do not get along well, even though I am surrounded by them now here in the south. Ironically there are a few bugs that, for some reason or another, I really like. Would you believe LEGO The Insect Collection #21342 has three of them! When Matt told me that this set was set to be released I freaked out. He was surprised I would like the beetle and this led to a detailed story of how my daddy bought me a wooden 3D puzzle of the Hercules Beetle when I was a youngling. I loved that wooden puzzle and made it over and over, and fell in love with the insect at the same time. Needless to say my awesome husband had the insects safe in a lovely yellow bag on their release date and headed home to me.
The set was released in the US on September 4, 2023. It has 1111 pieces, rated for 18+, and includes 7 bags and 4 thin instruction booklets.
After building this set I had to ask myself if this was a LEGO set or stunning pieces of artwork. In conclusion, it is both. I am like a kid in a candy store when it comes to shopping for LEGO sets. I can’t seem to find one I don’t like, but every once in a while I come across one that just takes my breath away and I have to pause and sit back to process just how magical building with LEGO bricks can be. This Insect Collection joins a small handful that deserve special recognition. The colors, creative piece use, and overall beauty within the design impressed me greatly.
The first small booklet is dedicated to interesting facts about the insects and meeting the Fan designer José Marià Pérrez Suero, and the LEGO designers who created the final design.
All three insects start with the same sleek octagon base with smooth black rim, and brown center. They also all rest upon a light tan structure that appears to resemble natural branches or logs, but each one has its own unique style that allows each insect to be displayed in a way that highlights its features in the best possible way.
The Blue Morpho Butterfly is built first. The wooden branch built for the butterfly is the tallest of the support structures. It builds up with a central support system and then plates are attached to all four sides to bring in the texture and style features. Two Technic™ angled axle and pin connectors create the structural support to build the top portion that is slightly angled. This allows the butterfly to be positioned at an optimal viewing angle. Small and medium pink flowers blossom on the branch, and at the base two green leaves are added.
I had to take a moment to calm down upon discovering these leaves. They are an amazing addition to the LEGO flora collection. They are new this year and in addition to this set have been released in three other sets in a variety of colors; Donkey Kong’s TreeHouse, Pegasus Flying Horse, and Stable of Dream Creatures.
At the base of the branch a large pink flower is in full bloom and it’s stunning. The petals are attached with clasps that allow them to rotate outwards if you want the flower to open wider. Shades of pinks and red are layered within the circular design. The new green leaves fill the outer edges and hovering above the petals on a clear curved bar a bee looks for a morsel of pollen.
The one insect that I have a huge soft spot for are bees, specifically big fat Bumble Bees! They fill my garden and are my little friends, and this sweet little bee is perfect. He has very special opaque wings and a cute little bottom that is made from an egg shape, but has printed stripes across one side that remind me of the fluffy back ends of my Bumble Bees.
The large Blue Morpho Butterfly is the central focus and that is a well deserved honor. His beautiful layered wings hinge at the middle and can either showcase the gorgeous blue pattern on top or the black and subtle blue underneath his wings. Along with the bee the antennas are created with a black bucket handle. He has a sleek and slender black body which looks delicate and small compared to his giant wings. The designers did an incredible job creating the layers within the wings, but overall they stay very thin. Three blues create a flowing gradient of color down the wings, and along the outer top edges curved black polka dots add additional detailing.
The butterfly is gorgeous and looks stunning on display. You almost start to imagine that he will start gracefully fluttering his wings as he rests.
The Hercules Beetle sits on my favorite of the wooden branches, although I think this one is more like a fallen log. The log looks a bit like the shape of the beetle with a long pointed ledge similar to the horn of the insect. This structure was a bit more complicated to build than the butterfly’s branch. It has a similar central structure that detailed sides are attached to, but it also required a support system built in to attach the main piece to the base at an angle. My favorite part are the two blue mushrooms that rise to one side on slender white stalks. The addition of the mushrooms adds great depth and character to this display and the blue mushrooms and yellow shell on the beetle compliment each other nicely.
The beetle was more complicated to build than his blue friend. His body structure was built to support the six legs, the armored shell and also the wings when attached, and of course the long front horn. His head, which is located directly beneath the horn, can rotate up and down on a ball and socket. All six of his legs rotate on pins at the connection point, are jointed high on the upper portion, and at the end his bucket handle feet can spin as desired. He can pose in many ways with this freedom of movement. His yellow shell can rotate up and down and also open outwards. This movement allows for very natural movement and placement of the shell to allow his wings to pop out.
The wings must be removed for the shell to close up. It would have been lovely to have the wings stay on permanently, but I can respect that this would have been a very difficult challenge to design.
A bar with hollow stud and a round 1×2 plate with open studs create the attaching mechanism for the wings support. I initially thought this may be a weak connection, but it is surprisingly strong.
Perched atop his little log he creates an adorable, but fearsome, insect.
The butterfly was all beauty, the beetle full of grit and style, but the best was saved for last
The Mantis has it all; style, character, charm. There is everything to love and countless hours to spend rearranging his smart little legs in every imaginable way.
Perched atop the longest of the branches he is surrounded by large leaves and small white flowers.This also uses the new leaf form, but in a darker shade of green than the butterfly. I loved the little white flowers which seem to be made from cracked egg shells with a pale yellow flower for the center. His branch was built the same as the other two but takes a sharp turn towards the right through the use of another angled axle and pin connector,. Two dark green 8x6x2 curved windscreens create lovely large leaves which make for perfect footholds for the bright green Mantis.
Hidden among the flowers a little friend has come to visit the Mantis. A 7-spotted ladybug, created by a printing on a red smooth round tile stud, makes a lovely splash of color in a predominant green display. Two more of his friends lie among the leaves at the base of the branch.
I had the great pleasure of seeing a Mantis in its natural habitat and I loved how his slender little sticks for legs moved him around the branches he was trying to hide in. The designers nailed the legs on this adorable brick Mantis. They are slender and rotate in many ways with multiple joints. The little feet at the end are made from green pistol revolvers which is both a genius and hilarious use of pieces. The legs can be positioned to mimic a live Mantis perfectly. His two front legs are a bit larger and more complicated to build, but perfectly fitting to replicate the insect. Five joints allow for incredible freedom of movement.
The end piece used for the arms appears to be a brand new piece. A yellowish green serrated Minifig sword creates the perfect hands for the little green man. The abdomen is slender and has a perfect back hinge plate which angles in the perfect shape. This also provides the attachment for the thorax which supports the arms and head. The head holds perfectly lovely and yet terrifying large green round eyes which have a plethora of eyes printed on them. Golden crowbars pose as antennas, super fun, and tile with an open o clip creates the mouth.
The other insects create perfect display pieces, but I just want to play with the Mantis! He is the perfect little bug friend.
The combination and design of pieces used, the attention to detail to create very lifelike insects, and the impressive overall design places this set in a category all its own. Whether you are passionate about insects or not, this set is worth picking up if only to build and appreciate the amazing ability that LEGO bricks provide.