Butterfly – Citrus Swallowtail (Papilio demodocus)

Common, adaptable and thoroughly at home in gardens, the Citrus Swallowtail (Papilio demodocus) is one of the most widespread butterflies in sub-Saharan Africa. Its larvae feed on cultivated citrus as readily as on native Rutaceae, which has made it both a familiar garden visitor and an occasional minor pest from the Cape to the Arabian Peninsula.

Also known as the Christmas or orange dog butterfly, the Citrus Swallowtail is admired for both its beauty and its ecological role. A strong, fast flier, it visits flowers for nectar and often “puddles” at damp ground to take up minerals. Its caterpillars are equally remarkable: young larvae mimic bird droppings to avoid detection, while older ones turn bright green with large false eye-spots. When disturbed, they raise a forked orange organ called an osmeterium, releasing a strong odour to deter predators.

Feeding mainly on plants in the citrus family (Rutaceae), including both wild species and cultivated trees, the caterpillars are sometimes considered orchard pests. The butterfly breeds throughout much of the year, producing multiple generations where conditions allow, with pupae that can overwinter through dry or cool seasons. Energetic, adaptable, and vividly patterned, the Citrus Swallowtail is one of Africa’s most familiar and striking butterflies.

Bugs is a collection of natural history illustration prints drawn from the insect world - beetles, flies, bugs, butterflies, and moths selected for the strangeness, beauty, and variety of their forms.

Each illustration is adapted from Simon Tyler's book Bugs, published by Pavilion in 2017 and subsequently published in French and Chinese. The series draws on the tradition of scientific natural history illustration - precise, considered, and attentive to the details that make each species distinctive.

Insects account for the majority of all known animal species on Earth. This collection is a small survey of what that diversity looks like.

All prints are produced to order on 250gsm archival matte paper using pigment-based inks, chosen for colour accuracy and long-term stability.

Each print is rolled in acid-free tissue and shipped in a rigid cardboard tube, sealed for moisture protection, ready for framing on arrival.

Large · 70 × 50 cm · 28 × 20 in

XLarge · 100 × 70 cm · 40 × 28 in

UK: Free · 3-5 working days

Europe: €8.50 · 3-7 working days · No customs charges

USA & Canada: $8.95 / $12.00 CAD · 5-10 working days

Australia: $14.00 AUD · 5-10 working days

Rest of World: £14.95 · 7-14 working days

All prints are produced to order and dispatched within 1-3 working days. Orders placed before 5pm GMT ship the same day. You'll receive tracking information by email once dispatched.

Orders outside Europe may be subject to local customs charges on delivery - these are the responsibility of the recipient.

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Returns accepted within 30 days. Email returns@axisophy.com with your order number and we'll provide return instructions.

Return postage is the customer's responsibility except where the print arrives damaged or there's been an error - in which case we'll arrange a replacement or refund immediately, no return needed.

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