These natural history images are shared as a study of the art of entomological illustration. Attribution to the artists has been given whenever possible. Many pieces, however, were found separated from texts or portfolios and are unidentified. If you have information about anything you see here, please send a note. Other sites featuring beautiful and fun insect images can be found on the links page.

New: From Butterflies by Clarence M. Weed, D. Sc., just a few of the many beautiful color plates in this 1917 volume. These images have a soft look and painterly composition not often found in scientific illustration.

And on a lighter note...

The Bug Of Turin ...a spiritual contribution from WadeMedia. Thank you, James!... I think. ;-)

Previously featured: Three new plates of Coleoptera Plate from The Aurelian by Moses Harris

Emperor Moth (94 K), a coloured engraving by Terasso after Albin, from Eleazer Albin's Natural History of English Insects, 1749. Contributed by Wulf <wulf@aracnet.net> Thank you, Wulf! (A smaller file is also available here.)

Nine chromolith plates from Furneaux's British Butterflies and Moths

A series of surprisingly beautiful illustrations from a U.S. Department of Agriculture bulletin, dated 1885.

Comparison of the postage stamp issued with the artwork of Maria Sibylla Merian (1647-1717) to an engraved "copy" produced 78 years after her death.

More:

Sphinx Moths -- beautiful! Promethea Moth Beetles And more beetles An ancient Greek coin -- bee of Ephesos Order Coleoptera

Goliath beetle Scarabae Some unusual mandibles Additional coleoptera Butterflies and moths -- with recently updated attribution to Moses Harris

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