Torrid Jewel Bug (Pachycoris torridus)

Across Central and South America, the Torrid Jewel Bug (Pachycoris torridus) turns up in so many colour combinations - red, orange, green, black, all glossy and domed like a tiny lacquered shield - that no two individuals seem quite alike.

Pachycoris torridus belongs to the family Scutelleridae, sometimes called shield-backed bugs, whose enlarged scutellum covers the abdomen like a smooth, rounded dome. It is found from Mexico through to Brazil and Argentina, where it feeds on the sap of various plants, including the physic nut (Jatropha curcas) - a crop plant grown for biofuel production, which has brought the bug to the attention of agricultural researchers. Both adults and nymphs feed gregariously, and females display a notable degree of maternal care, standing guard over their egg clusters and early-stage nymphs to protect them from parasitic wasps.

Maternal care is relatively rare among true bugs and unusual among insects generally, making Pachycoris torridus a subject of interest for entomologists studying the evolution of parental behaviour. The egg-guarding female positions herself over her brood and will actively confront small predators and parasitoids - a level of investment that significantly improves offspring survival. It is a reminder that even among insects we casually call "bugs," family life can be more attentive than we might expect.

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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