Violin Beetle (Mormolyce phyllodes)

Flattened to an almost implausible degree, the Violin Beetle (Mormolyce phyllodes) has a body shaped so precisely like its namesake instrument that it barely looks real. Its wide, translucent wing cases and paper-thin profile allow it to slip between layers of bracket fungi in the tropical rainforests of Southeast Asia.

Violin Beetles are found in the tropical rainforests of Southeast Asia, particularly in Malaysia and Indonesia. Their extreme flatness is an adaptation to life between the layers of bracket fungi growing on tree trunks, where they hunt for insect larvae and other small invertebrates. Despite their delicate appearance, they are active predators with powerful mandibles. When threatened, they can spray a caustic chemical from their abdomen - an effective deterrent that belies their papery, almost fragile look.

The Violin Beetle belongs to the ground beetle family (Carabidae), though its arboreal habits set it apart from its earth-bound relatives. Its remarkable form is a striking example of how evolutionary pressure - in this case, the need to navigate extremely tight spaces - can produce shapes that seem more like design than biology. Few insects demonstrate quite so vividly that function and beauty are not always in conflict.

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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