Acherontia atropos, Crete - photo © K. Bormpoudaki
Acherontia atropos (Linnaeus, 1758)
MOTH INFO
Acherontia atropos is a moth of the family Sphingidae on the island of Crete, Greece.
Scientific name
Acherontia atropos (Linnaeus, 1758)
Synonyms
Sphinx atropos Linnaeus, 1758
Atropos solani Oken, 1815
Acherontia sculda Kirby, 1877
Acherontia conjuncta (Tutt, 1904
Acherontia extensa Tutt, 1904
Acherontia flavescens Tutt, 1904
Acherontia imperfecta Tutt, 1904
Acherontia intermedia Tutt, 1904
Acherontia obsoleta Tutt, 1904
Acherontia suffusa Tutt, 1904
Acherontia variegata Tutt, 1904
Acherontia virgata Tutt, 1904
Acherontia violacea Lambillion, 1905
Acherontia charon Closs, 1910
Acherontia diluta Closs, 1911
Acherontia obscurata Closs, 1917
Acherontia myosotis Schawerda, 1919
Acherontia confluens Dannehl, 1925
Acherontia moira Dannehl, 1925
Acherontia pulverata Cockayne, 1953
Acherontia radiata Cockayne, 1953
Acherontia griseofasciata Lempke, 1959
Common name
Death’s-head Hawk-moth, Deathhead Moth
Classification
Superfamily: Bombycoidea > Family: Sphingidae > Subfamily: Sphinginae > Tribus: Sphingini > Genus: Acherontia
Wingspan
90-135 mm
Habitat
Gardens, orchards, apiaries, and vineyards.
Food plant
The larva is polyphagous and in Crete is mostly found on Olea europaea during the olive harvesting period and during springtime. It also feeds on the leaves of Solanaceae (Solanum tuberosum (potato), Atropa belladonna, Datura stramonium, Lycopersicon lycopersicum (tomato)).
It is often observed in apiaries searching for honey, that consumes in case of success at entering the beehive.
Flight period
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
Links
Adult
Larva
