Seven Spot Ladybird (Coccinella septempunctata)

Seven black spots on glossy red wing cases - the Seven-spot Ladybird (Coccinella septempunctata) has a design so simple and iconic it barely needs illustration. It is perhaps the most familiar and best-loved beetle in Europe, recognised even by people who couldn't name another insect.

The Seven-spot Ladybird is found throughout Europe, Asia, and North Africa, and has been introduced to North America as a biological control agent. It is a voracious predator of aphids - a single adult can consume over 5,000 in its lifetime - making it a welcome presence in gardens and on farmland alike. Adults overwinter in sheltered spots, sometimes gathering in large clusters in leaf litter, window frames, and outbuildings before emerging in spring to feed and breed.

Few insects enjoy such a consistently positive reputation. Ladybirds have been regarded as symbols of good luck across many cultures for centuries - their association with the Virgin Mary gave rise to the English common name (Our Lady's bird), while similar religious and folk connections exist in French (bête à bon Dieu), German (Marienkäfer), and Russian (bozhya korovka). It is a rare example of a beetle that has achieved genuine cultural affection, transcending the squeamishness that many people feel towards insects.

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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