Sphingidae : Sphinginae
  Prev | Next  
 
Death's-head Hawk-moth
Acherontia atropos

(Linnaeus, 1758) 1973 / 69.005
Photo © Jill Warwick,  Ripon, Sept 2010

Immature stages

Upload a Photo
Similar Yorkshire Species: None
Express Record Death's-head Hawk-moth

Golden Cinnabar Membership

  • Help with running costs of Yorkshire Moths
  • View detailed maps
  • List detailed species records
  • 12 month membership

yorkshiremoths.co.uk
   You can really help...

Copyright © Lepidoptera UK 2025
   
Click Map for Details

Yorkshire Status: Rare and local migrant/wanderer.

This large and spectacular migrant species seems to turn up most years in the county, and like many migrants is a little commoner in coastal areas. We have seven records of larvae, usually on potato but one record recently was near a large patch of bittersweet. It is unlikely that pupae can survive our winters. This species is commonly advertised by livestock breeders and is a popular moth to breed, so we cannot guarantee that all these records are of genuine migrants. Several found inside glass houses in Sheffield Botanic Gardens in 2008 were almost certainly not migrants. Moths are occasionally found inside bee hives which they enter searching for honey. Its native range is large, extending north to the Mediterranean as far as southern Spain, southern Italy and Turkey.

Sutton & Beaumont, 1989: An occasional immigrant, recorded from all five vice-counties (map 2 MBGBI 9).

Recorded in 60 (30%) of 200 10k Squares.
First Recorded in 1865.
Last Recorded in 2024.
Additional Stats

< Convolvulus Hawk-moth  |  Five-spotted Hawk-moth >
Forewing: 52-60mm.
Flight: August - October (possibly May-Nov)
Foodplant:   Potato, Deadly Nightshade
GB Status: Immigrant
Verification Grade:  Adult: 2
List Species Records   [Show All Latest]
Latest 5 Records
Date#VC10k Area
18/10/2024161TA12 - Kingston Upon Hull (S/E)
09/09/2024161TA16 - Bridlington
28/08/2024+65SE28 - Bedale
11/08/2024163SE30 - Worsbrough / Wombwell
27/09/2023163SK29 - Stocksbridge
  Immature   Adult   [Show Flight Weeks]
Show Details | 1990 to 2024 | 2000 to 2024 | Graph Key
© YorkshireMoths.co.uk 2025 NOLA®; Database using MapMate® Digital Maps © Bartholomew 2010. Design © Jim Wheeler 2025 Lepidoptera.UK
This site requires necessary cookies to function correctly. We'd also like to set Google analytics cookies that help us make improvements by measuring how you use the site. These will be set only if you accept all cookies. Necessary cookies enable core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility. You may disable these by changing your browser settings, but this will affect how the website functions. Cookies Policy