Death's-head moth

Death's-head moth

  The death's head moth is a large hawk, or sphinx, moth with a thick, hairy body. Many superstitions arose because of the skull-like pattern on its body. The moth lives in Africa and southern Europe, and adults often migrate to northern Europe. They enter beehives to eat honey and may squeak loudly when disturbed. The caterpillar is bright-yellow with violet stripes and blue spots. It feeds on the leaves of potato plants.
  Scientific Classification. The death's-head moth belongs to the family Sphingidae. It is genus Acherontia,
species A. atropos,