Seven Spot Ladybird (Coccinella septempunctata)

A single adult gets through more than 5,000 aphids in its life, which is why it is welcome on farms and in gardens across Europe, Asia and North Africa, and why it was introduced to North America as a biological control.

The red is a genuine warning. Ladybirds release an alkaloid fluid from the leg joints when threatened, and it tastes bad enough that most predators only try once. Adults overwinter in sheltered places, sometimes in large clusters in leaf litter, window frames and outbuildings, before emerging in spring to feed and breed.

It may be the only beetle with genuine cultural affection attached. The English name is a contraction of Our Lady's bird, a reference to the Virgin Mary, and the same association appears in French, German and Russian - a rare case of an insect escaping the general squeamishness entirely.

A vector illustration of the seven spot ladybird 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.

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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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