Death's-head hawkmoth facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Death's-head hawkmoth |
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| Acherontia lachesis | |
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Acherontia
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A Death's-head hawkmoth is the name for three special types of moth. These moths are known for a unique skull-shaped pattern on their bodies. They are all part of the Acherontia group. The most common one people think of is the European species.
The three types are Acherontia atropos, Acherontia styx, and Acherontia lachesis. While A. atropos mostly lives in Europe, A. styx and A. lachesis are found in Asia. All three look quite similar in size and color. They also have similar life cycles.
These moths have some very unusual traits. If they feel bothered or scared, all three kinds can make a loud squeaking sound! They make this sound by pushing air from a part of their throat called the pharynx. They might also flash their bright abdomen (the back part of their body) to scare away animals that might want to eat them.
Another cool thing they do is visit beehives to steal honey. A. atropos especially likes to raid the hives of the common western honey bee. These clever moths can move around inside the hives without getting hurt. This is because they can copy the smell of the bees, so the bees don't notice them.
How Death's-head Hawkmoths Grow
Death's-head hawkmoths start their lives as tiny eggs. The female moth lays each egg one by one. She places them on the underside of old leaves of plants. These eggs can be green or a grey-blue color.
The moths are not picky about which plants they use. They can lay their eggs on many different types of plants. Some common plant families they use include Solanaceae, Verbenaceae, Oleaceae, and Bignoniaceae.
When the eggs hatch, they become larvae, which are like caterpillars. These larvae are quite big and strong. They can grow to be about 120-130 millimeters long. They also have a noticeable horn-like shape on their tail.
The larvae come in three main colors: green, brown, or yellow. They don't move around much. If something threatens them, they might click their mandibles (jaws) or even try to bite. When a larva is fully grown, it burrows into the ground. It digs a small space for itself and then changes into a pupa. This is the stage before it becomes an adult moth.
Death's-head Hawkmoths in Stories
These interesting moths have appeared in popular culture. One famous example is in the movie The Silence of the Lambs. They were also mentioned in the book I'm the King of the Castle. Their unique skull pattern makes them quite memorable!
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Images for kids
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Larva
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Thorn-like horn on the back
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Larva of Acherontia atropos
See also
In Spanish: Acherontia para niños
