Io Moth
The Io Moth (Automeris io) appears here in a vivid, accurate plate, its broad yellow wings and dramatic hindwing eyespots shown with clarity and boldness. Native to North America, this saturniid moth ranges widely — from southern Canada and much of the United States into parts of Mexico — and is found in woodland edges, fields, gardens, and even suburban parks.
The Io moth is best known for its sudden defensive display: when threatened, it flashes open its forewings to reveal startling black-and-blue eyespots ringed in gold on the back wings, imitating the eyes of a larger animal to deter birds and mammals. Males are typically bright yellow while females are browner, and both have a wingspan of five to eight centimetres. Adults do not feed and live for only a week or two, using their brief lifespan for mating. The green caterpillars are equally striking and possess venomous spines that can cause a painful sting if touched. Io larvae are highly versatile, feeding on many types of trees, shrubs, and grasses, and sometimes travelling in processional lines as juveniles before becoming solitary as they mature.
This bold, colourful print is developed from the updated Bugs illustration and printed with archival giclée on heavy 250gsm matte paper. The result is a crisp, long-lasting print — balancing clarity, graphic intensity, and the Io moth’s unmistakable presence — ideal for scientific display, art collectors, or anyone with an appreciation for native wildlife.
Bugs Series
Bugs gathers illustrations adapted from and inspired by founder Simon Tyler's book Bugs, published by Pavilion Children’s Books in 2017. The series celebrates the graphic elegance of insect life: armour-like exoskeletons, iridescent wings, compound eyes, and the ingenious mechanics of movement and camouflage. It’s a visual field guide reimagined—clean, bold forms and carefully tuned palettes that bring structure to the surface.
Each piece begins with the research-led drawings from the book and then goes further: refined linework, rebalanced composition, and subtle textural detailing designed for generous print sizes. The aim is clarity and presence — images that feel scientifically grounded yet striking on the wall. Printed with the same archival care as our other series, Bugs turns natural history into crisp, enduring graphic art.
Printing & Materials
Our Bugs series is produced in collaboration with specialist fine-art printing partners using museum-grade 250 gsm archival giclée paper.
Each print is made to order with exceptional precision and colour accuracy, using pigment-based inks for long-term stability and rich tonal depth.
Prints are carefully rolled in acid-free tissue and shipped in rigid cardboard tubes to ensure they arrive in perfect condition, ready for framing.
All materials and processes are chosen for their longevity, texture, and fidelity to the original artwork, reflecting our commitment to quality and craft.