Death's-head Hawkmoth

The death’s-head hawkmoth, Acherontia atropos, is found throughout tropical Africa and adjacent areas. It also migrates into temperate regions and is regularly found in the UK.

Death's-head hawkmoth

It is one of the UK’s largest moths and is readily identified by its large size, the skull-like marking on the thorax and its yellow-striped abdomen.

The females are very similar to the males but have thinner antennae, slightly broader and more rounded wings, and fatter bodies.

Unlike most moths that collect nectar from flowers, the death’s-head hawkmoth is very well adapted to raiding honeybee colonies and sucking honey directly from the comb.