![Half height banner for Maria Merian exhibition, showing a butterfly](https://cmsadmin.rct.uk/sites/default/files/lead_image_half_height/Merian_narrow_exhibition.jpg)
MARIA SIBYLLA MERIAN (1647-1717)
Water Hyacinth with Marbled or Veined Tree-Frogs and Giant Water-Bugs
1702-03RCIN 921213
Merian caught Giant Water-Bugs (Lethocerus grandis) in May 1701. They are among the largest insects in the world – shown as usual at life size in Merian’s illustration. She also reared the frogs from spawn, describing how she raised them on submerged turf and fed the tadpoles with bread.