Framed Death's Head Moth (Acherontia atropos) Ouija board

SPECIES  Acherontia atropos 

ORIGIN   Africa / Europe

FRAME   21.5x24.5xD5cm Made from recycled products.

DESCRIPTION  AKA Lesser Deaths Head Hawk moth or Bee Robber. Found throughout Asia this is one of the three species of Acherontia hawk moth. It is different in appearance to that of the European Acherontia atropos in that there are 2 bands instead of 1 on the underside of the forewing and the skull like marking is somewhat darker. It has a fearsome reputation as it was traditionally seen an an omen of death.

Known as the prophecy of doom in Thomas Hardy’s The Return of the Native and tormentor of the unstable King George lll this moth developed a sinister reputation.

More recently this moth was made famous by the chilling psychological thriller The Silence of the Lambs in which the serial killer leaves  a pupae of this moth as a  “ calling card “ in the throats of his victims.

This moth is a robber. Unlike most moths this large species is able to trick bee colonies into allowing it to enter hives in order to take honey directly from them without being stung. It has a hard outer cuticle and is said to mimic the queen bee in size and appearance and odour thus allowing it to move about inside the honeycombs. It is able to emit a loud shreik when disturbed but is generally harmless.

Our framed specimens are farmed. Please note markings may vary.