Acherontia atropos

The famous Deathshead moth ,so called because the markings on the thorax look like a skull have a sinister reputation (as featured in the film 'Silence of the lambs') but are harmless. They come from southern Europe and Africa and are good migrants able to travel to northern Europe and Russia where they feed on Solanaceae like potatoes or tomatoes . They can breed in the summer in colder climates but cannot survive winter. The larvae demonstrate polychromatism - yellow, green or brown , though most are yellow. They burrow into the earth in order to pupate.

These moths have an interesting food source-honey. They admit pheremones that confuse bees in order to infiltrate a hive ,and have a squeak that is said to mimic a queen bee. The 'skull' on the thorax actually resembles a bees face

acherontia atropos


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acherontia atropos verso,death head moth