Acherontia atropos - Death's head hawk

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Photo(s): Bart Wursten, Malilangwe Wildlife Reserve.

Species details:

Notes: Adults are robust moths with mottled brown forewings and yellow and black hindwings. The most distinctive feature is the creamy-yellow mark on the thorax, resembling a skull-and-cross-bones symbol. Adults are known to raid bee hives in search of honey.
Distribution: Throughout Africa, Europe, western Asia and the Indian Ocean Islands.
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Literature: africanmoths.com

Copyright: The Angola flora team, 2026

The Angola flora team (2026). Flora of Angola: Lepidoptera - Butterflies and Moths: Acherontia atropos .
https://www.angolaflora.com/speciesdata/insect-display.php?insect_species_id=400560, retrieved 14 August 2026

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