Acherontia atropos - Death's head hawk

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Acherontia atropos

Photo(s): Bart Wursten, Malilangwe Wildlife Reserve.

Species details:

Note: Adults are robust moths with mottled brown forewings and yellow and black hindwings. The most distinctive feature is the creamy-yellow mark on the thorax, resembling a skull-and-cross-bones symbol. Adults are known to raid bee hives in search of honey.
Distribution: Throughout Africa, Europe, western Asia and the Indian Ocean Islands.
Related plant families:
Related plant genera:
LamiaceaeClerodendrum (Food plant)
LamiaceaeSalvia (Food plant)
OleaceaeJasminum (Food plant)
SolanaceaeSolanum (Food plant)
VerbenaceaeVerbena (Food plant)
Related plant species:
LamiaceaeHoslundia opposita (Food plant)
VerbenaceaeLantana camara (Food plant)
Literature: africanmoths.com

Copyright: Mark Hyde, Bart Wursten, Petra Ballings and Meg Coates Palgrave, 2014-24

Hyde, M.A., Wursten, B.T., Ballings, P. & Coates Palgrave, M. (2024). Flora of Botswana: Lepidoptera - Butterflies and Moths: Acherontia atropos .
https://www.botswanaflora.com/speciesdata/insect-display.php?insect_species_id=400560, retrieved 29 March 2024

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