Acherontia atropos (Death's Head Hawkmoth)

[Lincs Yellowbelly]

Just a quicky, how common are Death's Head Hawkmoth? The reason i ask is, I was at my Grandma's for her birthday this evening and was looking through a Butterfly and Moth collection her father had built up around the time of WW2 and he had a couple of these in the collection, and I was amazed by the sise of them they are huge.

How easy are they to see? what are the best times and locations for them?

[wildlifesnapper]

Hi

they're quite rare.They migrate to northern europe from africa area and we get a few in the late summer/autumn.I guess the best area would be the south and south east coast areas.
Their larvae have been found here ( I think they are found more than the adults but I might be wrong) and it used to be said that the pupa could not survive our winter.I Guess this could change if our climate warms up as they keep saying it will.
If you are impressed with their size you want to hear how loud they can squeek!!

neil

[paulchandler6]

Have only ever seen 3 of those, all in the south west. 2 on Scilly and 1 in Cornwall all in October.
They are immigrants and I dont think they are common but usually in the South and east but can turn up anywhere.

Paul

[Ferret]

Deaths Head Hawkmoth is a migrant from Europe and North Africa which is seen in over here in varying numbers most years. To see one is just luck I think but you obviously stand more chance of seeing them in the south, but they have been seen in most parts of the UK even as far north as Orkney I believe. As one of its food plants is Potato it is possible that it could start breeding in this country as things warm up. I believe this has happened with the Humming Bird Hawkmoth which is another migrant from similar areas.

[wildlifesnapper]

Originally Posted by Ferret

I believe this has happened with the Humming Bird Hawkmoth which is another migrant from similar areas.

Yes I've heard this.Like you say they are/were a migrant that turned up in autumn but they are now recording them in spring which look newly hatched.
There are some benefits from global warming I guess.

neil

[tristanba]

He may well have bought a pinned specimen rather than captured one himself. My dad has one in his collection which I'm almost certain he acquired like this. Checking the specimen label (if present) might shed some light on its origin. BW Tristan

[Lance Morgan]

Quite a few enthusiasts now rear these from egg through to adult (I have) They are very easy to rear on privet in the warmth. So that may have been another source from captive stock.

[GuyF]

I'd love to see one of these, they look amazing!
Apparently the caterpillars used to be more common in potato fields before pesticides were brought in.
Guy

[Lance Morgan]

Atropos have never been common in this country. They are migrants from N Africa. During favourable years they often show up in good numbers around the coast and the larva could be found on potato plants (rarely) nowadays.
The adults sometimes show up in bee hives more often than not they are stung to death.
Our winter would kill off any pupae or adults. These moths like it hot and humid at all stages.
They are a very beautiful hawkmoth but strictly migrants and they have a lot of folklore attached to them because of the marking on the thorax.
The caterpillars are very variable in colour being yellow, green or brown. They can grow up to 10 cm in length and are very impressive when fully grown.. i rear all mine in a heated cupboard in plastic tubs and they do extremely well.

[Lincs Yellowbelly]

Thanks for all the replies My grandma seemed to think he got all his Moths and Butterflies around here, but there was a few species that I wouldn't expect around here, Swallowtail and Marbled Whites etc, but this was a long tiem ago so things could have been different back then

I was amazed by the size of the Death's head and the Convolvulus Hawk moths, although the Deaths head was much bigger, probably bigger than some small birds