Death´s-head Hawkmoth

Exhibit of the Month 5 / 2021

Death's-head Hawkmoth (prepared by Pavel Krásenský)

The Death's-head Hawkmoth is one of the largest European butterflies and is also our largest hawkmoth. The butterfly has a wingspan of up to 12 cm. It is striking both in size and with its characteristic light pattern on the thorax, which remarkably resembles a skull. As one of the few hawkmoths, it has a short and stiff proboscis. It often seeks out beehives, where it feeds on honey. Unfortunately, it is very often killed by bees. The caterpillars are very variable in color. They can be green, yellow, or brown with diagonal stripes on the sides. Their size is also remarkable. They can grow up to 13 cm in length. They feed on various types of plants, most commonly potato tops, privet, or in the southern parts of Europe, olive leaves. Like the butterfly, the caterpillar is active at night. The Death's-head Hawkmoth is a migrant that arrives here at the end of spring from southern Europe. The second generation develops here, and when conditions allow, it hatches in the autumn. However, these cases are very rare. The butterfly must complete its transformation as soon as possible to embark on a long journey south. Rarely, pupae can overwinter in our territory, but this requires a mild winter. In our region, it occurs very rarely. It is regularly found around Kadaň or in the Czech Central Highlands.

text and photo: Pavel Krásenský