Death's-Head Hawkmoths - the Honey-Eating, Beehive-Raiding Moth that Squeaks
Death's-Head Hawkmoth s 🦋💀 With a 4 ½ inches wingspan, death's-head hawkmoths are one of the most underrated (and largest) insects in the whole of the UK - and in this edition of Pernature, I will show you why. From their beehive-raiding habits to their peculiar squeaking alarm call, these hawkmoths are not only one of the biggest of their kind but are by far the most unique and fill an ecological niche filled by no other moth. So, let's dive into the story of this peculiar insect; their strange diet, interesting behaviours, and where you can find them in the UK. Appearance Death's-head hawk moths were given their spectacular name in the 19th century, due to their skull-like marking on their thorax - a striking white pattern that makes them famous across their native range and beyond. While on some individuals this pattern is clearly outlined and well-defined, it's not perfectly uniform across all individuals. Other than this main feature, the rest of the bo...