Branch of guava tree with leafcutter ants, army ants, pink-toed tarantulas, huntsman spiders, and ruby...

Purchased by George III, when Prince of Wales. Metamorphosis of the Insects of Suriname A watercolour and bodycolour depiction of a branch from a Guava tree [Psidium guineense] being divested of its leaves by ants [Atta cephalotes]. There are big, black, hairy spiders with eight eyes [Avicularia avicularia],smaller brown ones [Heteropoda venatoria] and Humming-bird. This macabre composition includes a tarantula carrying off a hummingbird. The Latin name of the tarantula genus is Avicularia - ‘small bird’ - referring to the spiders’ supposed diet. However, tarantulas do not prey on birds, and it has even been suggested that the reputation arose because of Merian’s memorable image.