Longhorn Beetle (Pachyteria equestris)

Among the thousands of longhorn beetle species worldwide, Pachyteria equestris stands out for sheer colour. Found in the Philippines and parts of Southeast Asia, its vivid metallic green or blue-green elytra, often contrasted with reddish tones on the thorax, give it an almost jewelled flamboyance unusual even for the Cerambycidae.

Pachyteria equestris is found in tropical lowland and montane forests, where its larvae develop inside the wood of broadleaf trees. Adults are active during the day - unusual for many longhorn beetles - and are often found on flowers and foliage, their bright colouring making them conspicuous visitors. The long, curved antennae characteristic of the family are well developed in this species, and males use them both for sensing their environment and in interactions with rivals.

The Philippines is a biodiversity hotspot with an exceptionally high rate of endemism - many of its species are found nowhere else on Earth. Pachyteria equestris is one of several ornate longhorn species in the region that have attracted the attention of collectors for their colour and form. The broader genus Pachyteria includes a number of visually spectacular species across Southeast Asia, but equestris remains one of the most sought-after - a beetle whose combination of colour, proportion, and tropical provenance gives it the air of something designed rather than evolved.

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.

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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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