Water hyacinth, marbled or veined tree-frogs with tadpoles and frog-spawn, and giant water-bugs, c.1701-5 (w/c...

Purchased by George III, when Prince of Wales A watercolour and bodycolour depiction of a water-hyacinth [Eichhornia crassipes] with frogs eggs at its base in the water. The water scorpion became the flying beetle [Lethocerus grandis], the green and brown frogs [Phrynohyas venulosa] emerged from the tadpoles. The giant water-bug is one of the largest insects in the world, growing to a length of 11 cm. The male water-bug carries eggs on its back, which are stuck there by the female; four eggs can be seen on the back of the lower bug here. The water hyacinth has air-filled swellings in its stems which allows it to float, and these plants can form huge floating rafts in lakes and rivers.