Butterfly - European Peacock (Aglais io)

Widespread in gardens, parks, woodlands, and open countryside, this adaptable species is highly mobile and among the first to appear in spring, emerging from winter hibernation in sheds, hollow trees, or woodpiles. Caterpillars feed on nettles, while adults visit buddleia, thistles, and other flowering plants throughout the summer. With a wingspan of up to seven centimetres, the Peacock is as notable for its behaviour as its beauty: the dark brown undersides of its wings provide camouflage when at rest, and a sudden flick open reveals the bright upper surfaces - sometimes accompanied by an audible hissing sound that deters birds and small mammals.

Populations across Europe are stable and expanding, with the species now found from the British Isles to Japan. Its adaptability and bold markings have made the Peacock one of the best-known butterflies in the world, a lasting emblem of summer across its range.

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.

Full delivery information →

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.

Full returns policy →