The death's head hawk moth looks like it should be riding in a biker gang or running with pirates. This creature has what looks like a skull "tattooed" on its back. Despite its appearance, the death's head is content to live its life mostly with the simple activities of eating and finding mates. However, this creature has some other talents: it's the fastest-flying insect alive, it can imitate a queen bee to steal the honey in a beehive and it's even been a movie star!
Death's Head: This moth got its name from the markings behind its head-a yellow half-circle with two dark dots in it that look much like a human skull (also called a "death's head"). In medieval times, this moth was thought to be a bad omen.
Color Up: The death's head caterpillar has a bright yellow body with blue or purple stripes spiraling around it. The adult keeps some of this color on its small pair of underwings. Adults and young use this color to startle predators.
Eat-a-Thon[]
A caterpillar increases its weight thousands of times as it grows into an adult.
A caterpillar that's going to turn into an adult death's head hawk moth needs a lot of energy to fuel the transformation, so it spends most its larval life eating. The first thing it devours after hatching is the leftovers of its own egg. Its mother laid the egg directly on a plant, so the caterpillar can start munching on leaves right away. It does this all night and day until it's so full it's about to burst. Then it does burst-sort of. When full, the caterpillar's skin splits and falls away to reveal a larger, looser skin so the creature can continue to stuff its face.
Squeaker: When startled, an adult of this species can suck air though its curved beak to make a loud squeaking sound that can frighten enemies. A caterpillar can't do this, but its jaws are strong enough to deliver a painful bite to attackers.
Speed Demon: Scientists think that the death's head hawk moth might be the fastest flying insect in the world. This creature has been clocked flying at speeds up to 34 miles per hour in short bursts.
Silence of the Hive[]
- Smelling honey, one of its favorite foods, in the air a hungry death's head hawk moth flies toward a beehive. It's met outside by several worker bees, ready to defend their nest.
- The moth's "death's head" looks like the markings of of a queen bee. The creature also makes squeaking noises that sound like a queen so the workers will leave it alone.
- Free to roam inside the hive, the death's head hawk moth goes straight for the honeycombs. The moth drains one chamber after another until it's full.
Trading Card[]
Trivia[]
- The trading card's picture is different from the one on the knowledge card; this is one of the only cases of this happening. The proboscis also seems to be on the top of the head.
- The knowledge card's front illustration is used in the Wildlife Explorer series, as the Death's Head Hawk Moth's profile. It is rotated slightly counterclockwise, but otherwise is the same.
- Both real photos on the back are also shared.
- It is one of the only cards not in packets 76-90 to share the front illustration, along with Harpy Eagle, Sea Anemones, and Slow Loris.
- The death's head hawk moth is one of two moths included in the series to be illustrated in their adult stage. The other one is Tiger Moths.
- The heading "Silence of the Hive" on the back of the card is a reference to Silence of the Lambs, a 1991 movie which the moth was featured in. This movie is also mentioned in the Did You Know? section of the card directly.
- The death's head hawk moth is featured on several Monster Mania cards:
- It is first featured in Moth Matching on Monster Mania 64.
- It is then featured in Toxic Trouble on Monster Mania 71.