Christmas Beetle (Anoplognathus pallidicollis)

In Australia, summer arrives with a soundtrack of cicadas and a shower of Christmas Beetles (Anoplognathus pallidicollis) bumbling into porch lights. Named for their mass emergence during the warm, humid weeks around December, these glossy, tawny-gold scarabs have become as much a part of the season as pavlova.

Anoplognathus pallidicollis is one of the more common Christmas beetle species in southeastern Australia, found from Queensland through New South Wales to Victoria. Adults feed on eucalyptus leaves, sometimes gathering in numbers sufficient to defoliate young trees. Their larvae - fat, C-shaped grubs - develop underground for one to two years, feeding on grass roots and organic matter in the soil. On warm December and January evenings, newly emerged adults are strongly attracted to lights and frequently blunder into houses, barbecues, and outdoor gatherings - an annual intrusion that has become part of the cultural fabric of the Australian summer.

In recent decades, Christmas beetle numbers have declined noticeably in many parts of southeastern Australia. Habitat loss, changes in land management, and the compaction of soils by livestock are thought to be contributing factors, as the larvae depend on loose, undisturbed ground in which to develop. The genus Anoplognathus contains around 35 species, many of them brilliantly metallic, but it is the common species like pallidicollis - the ones that once arrived reliably each December - whose absence is most keenly felt. Their seasonal appearance once seemed as dependable as the summer itself.

Bugs Series

Bugs gathers illustrations adapted from and inspired by founder Simon Tyler's book Bugs, published by Pavilion Children’s Books in 2017. The series celebrates the graphic elegance of insect life: armour-like exoskeletons, iridescent wings, compound eyes, and the ingenious mechanics of movement and camouflage. It’s a visual field guide reimagined—clean, bold forms and carefully tuned palettes that bring structure to the surface.

Each piece begins with the research-led drawings from the book and then goes further: refined linework, rebalanced composition, and subtle textural detailing designed for generous print sizes. The aim is clarity and presence — images that feel scientifically grounded yet striking on the wall. Printed with the same archival care as our other series, Bugs turns natural history into crisp, enduring graphic art.

Printing & Materials

Our Bugs series is produced in collaboration with specialist fine-art printing partners using museum-grade 250 gsm archival giclée paper.

Each print is made to order with exceptional precision and colour accuracy, using pigment-based inks for long-term stability and rich tonal depth.

Prints are carefully rolled in acid-free tissue and shipped in rigid cardboard tubes to ensure they arrive in perfect condition, ready for framing.

All materials and processes are chosen for their longevity, texture, and fidelity to the original artwork, reflecting our commitment to quality and craft.