The Death’s-Head Hawkmoth (Acheronthia Atropos) is a large insect in the Sphingidae family. It has an image similar to a human skull on its thorax, behind its head.

The Death’s-Head Hawkmoth is brown to dark-brown with yellowish-cream patches, zigzags, and stripes. It has a wide, plump, furry body with brown and yellowish-cream colours. It has short antennae.

Death’s-Head Hawkmoth

It has a wingspan of 8-12 centimetres (3-5 inches).

The Death’s-Head Hawkmoth is found in Asia. There are two other species of Death’s-Head Hawkmoth found in Europe. It is common in parks and gardens. It is a migratory moth, and it has been seen in the United Kingdom.

It can make a noise, like a loud chirp, if disturbed. Its epipharynx makes the noise. The epipharynx is an organ in its throat that vibrates when making a sound.

The Death’s-Head Hawkmoth eats Western Honeybees. It mimics the sound of the bees and enters the hive.

The female lays eggs under leaves. The eggs hatch into larvae. The larvae eat plant leaves. When the larvae are mature, they burrow underground and dig a small chamber where they pupate. They make a cocoon and metamorphose into an adult moth.

Death’s-Head Hawkmoth

Death’s-Head Hawkmoth

Photographer: Martina Nicolls

Martina Nicolls:SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM