Violin Beetle (Mormolyce phyllodes)

The shape is a consequence of where it lives. Bracket fungi grow in layers on tree trunks with almost no space between them, and this beetle hunts in that gap - so it has become paper-thin and broad, with translucent wing cases spread out like the body of a violin.

Nothing about the delicacy is defensive. It is an active predator with powerful mandibles, taking insect larvae and other small invertebrates from between the layers, and when threatened it sprays a caustic chemical from the abdomen that entirely contradicts its fragile appearance.

It belongs to the ground beetles, though its life in the trees sets it apart from most of that earth-bound family. The rainforests of Malaysia and Indonesia are its range, and its form is a clear demonstration of how a single pressure - here, the need to fit into a very narrow space - can produce something that looks far more designed than evolved.

A vector illustration of the violin beetle 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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