Goliath Beetle (Goliathus goliatus)

Weighing in at over 80 grams in its larval stage - roughly the heft of a small apple - the Goliath Beetle (Goliathus goliatus) is one of the heaviest insects on Earth. Native to equatorial Africa's tropical forests, it is built on a scale that challenges the very idea of what a beetle should be.

Goliath Beetles are found in countries across West and Central Africa, from Cameroon and Nigeria to the Democratic Republic of Congo. Males bear a distinctive Y-shaped horn on the head, used in shoving contests with rivals over feeding sites and mates. Despite their bulk, adults are capable of flight, producing a deep, buzzing drone as they move between trees in search of sugary fruit, sap, and pollen. Their larvae develop in rich, decaying plant material on the forest floor, growing to extraordinary size over several months before pupating.

The sheer scale of the Goliath Beetle raises interesting questions about the limits of insect body size. Insects breathe through a network of tiny tubes called tracheae that deliver oxygen directly to their tissues - a system that becomes less efficient as body size increases. The Goliath Beetle essentially pushes this system to its modern limit, and its existence is a reminder that the giant insects of the Carboniferous period - dragonflies with 70cm wingspans - were made possible by an atmosphere far richer in oxygen than today's.

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.