Giant Mesquite Bug (Thasus neocalifornicus)

The Giant Mesquite Bug (Thasus neocalifornicus) goes through one of nature's more dramatic wardrobe changes. As a nymph, it gathers in dense, conspicuous clusters on mesquite trees, dressed in bright blue, orange, and red. As an adult, it settles into a more sober dark brown-to-black livery with vivid orange markings - still impressive, but considerably more dignified.

Giant Mesquite Bugs feed on the seed pods, leaves, and young stems of mesquite (Prosopis species), using their piercing mouthparts to extract sap and nutrients. They are gregarious insects, with nymphs congregating in large groups that function as a collective warning display - their bright colours advertise the fact that the bugs accumulate distasteful compounds from their host plant. Adults are among the largest true bugs in North America, reaching lengths of around 40mm, and they can produce a noticeable odour when handled.

The close relationship between these bugs and mesquite trees anchors them firmly in the ecology of the American Southwest - a landscape where mesquite has been both a vital resource for indigenous peoples and a subject of intense debate among ranchers who consider it an invasive pest. The Giant Mesquite Bug's dependence on these trees makes it a quiet participant in one of the most long-running ecological arguments in the region, entirely indifferent to human opinions about its host plant.

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

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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.

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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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