Death's-head Hawk-moth Acherontia atropos

The Death's-head Hawk-moth, named after the pattern on its thorax, is the largest moth to appear in the UK, - an occasional migrant from Southern Europe in August-September. It is also called the African Deathshead Hawkmoth to differentiate from the two other Hawkmoths in its genus, both native to Asia, which also have a skull pattern on the thorax.

Its wingspan is 80-120 mm. It is native to Africa, southern Europe and the Middle East. All three in the genus enter beehives to eat honey and pollen. They can expel air to squeak when upset.

The most common form of late instar caterpillars is a greenish yellow striped with blue-grey. They eat various plants including potato, tomato, nightshades, verbena, olives and vines.

There is also a brown-grey form. When ready to pupate it can reach some 13cm long. It pupates underground in winter, emerging as a moth in spring.