Death's-head Hawkmoth
Acherontia lachesis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Insecta Order: Lepidoptera Family: Sphingidae Subfamily: Sphinginae Genus: Acherontia Laspeyres, 1809
Species
A. atropos A. styx A. lachesis Scientific classification redirects here. ... For other uses, see Animal (disambiguation). ... Subphyla and Classes Subphylum Trilobitomorpha Trilobita - trilobites (extinct) Subphylum Chelicerata Arachnida - spiders,scorpions, etc. ... Orders Subclass Apterygota Archaeognatha (bristletails) Thysanura (silverfish) Subclass Pterygota Infraclass Paleoptera (Probably paraphyletic) Ephemeroptera (mayflies) Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies) Infraclass Neoptera Superorder Exopterygota Grylloblattodea (ice-crawlers) Mantophasmatodea (gladiators) Plecoptera (stoneflies) Embioptera (webspinners) Zoraptera (angel insects) Dermaptera (earwigs) Orthoptera (grasshoppers, etc) Phasmatodea (stick insects) Blattodea (cockroaches) Isoptera (termites) Mantodea (mantids) Psocoptera... Subdivisions See Taxonomy of Lepidoptera and Lepidopteran diversity. ... Diversity 200 genera 1,200 species Type Species Sphinx ligustri (Privet Hawk-moth) Subfamilies Macroglossinae Smerinthinae Sphinginae The Sphingidae are a family of moths (Lepidoptera). ... For other uses, see Species (disambiguation). ...

The name Death's-head Hawkmoth refers to any one of the three species (A. atropos, A. styx and A. lachesis) of moth in the genus Acherontia. The former species is primarily found in Europe, the latter two are Asian, and most uses of the common name refer to the European species. These moths are easily distinguishable by the vaguely skull-shaped pattern of markings on the thorax. All three species are fairly similar in size, coloration, and life cycle. For other uses, see Moths. ... For other uses, see Europe (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Asia (disambiguation). ... For other uses of Skull, see Skull (disambiguation). ...

These moths have several unusual features. All three species have the ability to emit a loud squeak if irritated. The sound is produced by expelling air from the pharynx, often accompanied by flashing of the brightly-colored abdomen in a further attempt to deter predators. All three species are commonly observed raiding beehives of different species of honey bee for honey; A. atropos only attacks colonies of the well-known Western honey bee, Apis mellifera. They are able to move about in hives unmolested because they mimic the scent of the bees.^[1] The pharynx (plural: pharynges) is the part of the neck and throat situated immediately posterior to the mouth and nasal cavity, and cranial, or superior, to the esophagus, larynx, and trachea. ... Domesticated Western honey bees are kept in beehives. ... The honeybee is a colonial insect that is often maintained, fed, and transported by farmers. ... Binomial name Linnaeus, 1758 Subspecies North-west of Europe South-west of Europe Middle East Africa Synonyms Apis mellifica Linnaeus, 1761 The Western honey bee or European honey bee (Apis mellifera) is a species of honey bee. ...

Development

Eggs are laid singly under old leaves of the hostplant, and are green or grey-blue. None of the three species is restricted to a single family of host plant; hosts are typically in the families Solanaceae, Verbenaceae, Oleaceae, Bignoniaceae, and others. The larvae are stout, reaching 120-130 mm, with a prominent tail horn. All three species have three larval color forms: typically, green, brown, or yellow. Larvae do not move much, and will click their mandibles or even bite if threatened. When mature, they burrow underground and excavate a small chamber where they pupate. “Nightshade” redirects here. ... Genera About 90, including: Aloysia Amasonia Avicennia Callicarpa Caryopteris Citharexylum Clerodendrum Coleonema Congea Cornutia Crowea Diostea Duranta Garrettia Gmelina Holmskioldiana Hymenopyramis Lantana Lippia Nashia Oxera Petrea Phyla Premna Rhaphithamnus Schnabelia Sphenodesme Stachytarpheta Symphorema Tectona Thamnosma Tsoongia Verbena Vitex The Verbenaceae or Verbena family has been considered to be closely related... Genera Abeliophyllum- Chionanthus- Fringetree Comoranthus- Dimetra- Fontanesia- Forestieria- Swamp-privet Forsythia- Forsythia Fraxinus- Ash Haenianthus- Hesperelaea- Jasminum- Jasmine Ligustrum- Privet Menodora- Myxopyrum- Nestegis- Noronhia- Notelaea- Nyctanthes- Olea- Olive Osmanthus- Osmanthus Phillyrea- Mock-privet Picconia- Priogymnanthus- Schrebera- Syringa- Lilac Oleaceae, the olive family, is a plant family containing 24 extant genera... Genera See text The Family Bignoniaceae, or trumpet creeper family, is a taxon of flowering plants comprised mainly of trees, shrubs, lianas, and a few herbs. ...

Folklore

The skull pattern has helped these moths, particularly A. atropos, earn a negative reputation, such as associations with the supernatural and evil.[1] A. atropos has been prominently featured in art and movies (e.g., The Silence of the Lambs; see A. atropos). The Silence of the Lambs is a 1991 Academy Award-winning film directed by Jonathan Demme and starring Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins. ...

The species names atropos, styx and lachesis are all death-related. The first refers to the member of the Moirae who cuts the threads of life of all beings in Greek mythology; the second to the river of the dead, also in Greek mythology; and the last refers to the Moira who allots the correct amount of life to a being. In addition the genus name Acherontia is derived from Acheron, a river in Greece that was believed in Greek Mythology to be a branch of the river Styx. Atropos is also a British entomological journal - see Atropos (journal). ... In Greek mythology, Styx (Στυξ) is the name of a river which formed the boundary between Earth and the Underworld, Hades. ... In Greek mythology, Lachesis (also Lakhesis: Gk. ... For other meanings, see Fate, a disambiguation page. ... The bust of Zeus found at Otricoli (Sala Rotonda, Museo Pio-Clementino, Vatican) Greek mythology is the body of stories belonging to the Ancient Greeks concerning their gods and heroes, the nature of the world and the origins and significance of their own cult and ritual practices. ... The bust of Zeus found at Otricoli (Sala Rotonda, Museo Pio-Clementino, Vatican) Greek mythology is the body of stories belonging to the Ancient Greeks concerning their gods and heroes, the nature of the world and the origins and significance of their own cult and ritual practices. ... For other meanings, see Fate, a disambiguation page. ... Species Acherontia atropos Acherontia styx Variations in the Deaths head pattern The name Deaths head hawkmoth usually refers to one of the two species ( and ) of moth in the Acherontia genus. ... Acheron river near the village of Glyki. ... The bust of Zeus found at Otricoli (Sala Rotonda, Museo Pio-Clementino, Vatican) Greek mythology is the body of stories belonging to the Ancient Greeks concerning their gods and heroes, the nature of the world and the origins and significance of their own cult and ritual practices. ...

A. atropos

A. styx

References

External links

• A. atropos detailed information
• A. styx styx detailed information
• A. lachesis detailed information