Butterfly – Sapho Longwing (Heliconius sapho)

Striking even by Heliconius standards, the Sapho Longwing (Heliconius sapho) pairs deep indigo-black forewings with crisp white bands in a pattern bold enough to serve as a warning. Found from Mexico through Central America to Ecuador, it roosts communally each evening, returning to the same branch night after night with remarkable fidelity.

Sapho longwings are most often seen gliding through forest clearings and along stream edges, where adults sometimes gather to roost together in the evening. With a wingspan of about eight centimetres, they are graceful and long-lived butterflies — some surviving for up to six months thanks to their unusual ability to feed on both nectar and pollen. Males are territorial, defending favoured perches while waiting for females.

The caterpillars feed communally on passion vines, forming bright yellow clusters that stand out against the leaves. Like other members of the Heliconius group, the adults emit a faint, sweet scent from abdominal glands, a natural deterrent to predators. This combination of delicate pattern, social behaviour, and striking longevity makes the Sapho Longwing a distinctive presence in the tropical Americas.

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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