Giant Mesquite Bug (Thasus neocalifornicus)

The nymphs are impossible to miss. They gather in dense clusters on mesquite branches in bright warning colours, and the massing is the point - a group display advertises far more effectively than an individual could. Adults settle into much darker livery with orange markings, still large but considerably less conspicuous.

At around 40 millimetres they are among the largest true bugs in North America. They feed on the seed pods, leaves and young stems of mesquite, drawing sap through piercing mouthparts, and take up distasteful compounds from the tree as they go - which is what the nymphs' colours are advertising. Handle one and it produces a noticeable odour.

That dependence ties the species to a tree at the centre of a long argument. Mesquite has been a vital resource for indigenous peoples of the American Southwest and a target for ranchers who regard it as an invasive nuisance. The bug takes no position, but its range is decided by the outcome.

A vector illustration of the giant mesquite bug in dorsal view, drawn for the Bugs series of insect art prints.

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 · 50 × 70 cm · 20 × 28 in

XLarge · 70 × 100 cm · 28 × 40 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 →