The legend of the coal-beetle
The old house in Hann. Münden had seen better times. It had been the residence of the Coal-Hesse Company for many generations. One day the whole family moved away and the house was abandoned for a very long time. But now there happened an astonishing story : The primeval forests, having solidified millions of years ago to charcoal, gradually awakened - all unnoticed from humankind - to new life.
By amazing synthesis of coal eggs with other scattered substances a so far completely unknown rare insect species arised: the coal-beetle (scarabaeus carbunculus) Only in the year 2011 - on the occasion of an art-festival in several historical monuments of Hann. Münden - the scarabaeus carbunculus was discovered by CHARLOTTE SCHÜTZ. In her installation "99 Kohlenkäfer" the newfound species was introduced to the general public. The coal-beetle's movements are extremly slow, so that it is not visible for human eyes. Its maximum crawling speed is 1 cm per year; to cross a medium sized living room would take him about 300 years. For us the coal-beetle is completely harmless, even quite useful, because it feeds on cobweb and dust bunnies. Thrilled fans adopted the first 99 scarabaeus carbunculus specimen right away. Since then the species spread over many cities, countries and continents. New generations are evolving and looking forward to their adoptive parents. |