DEATH'S-HEAD HAWK-MOTH

ADULT: Wingspan 80-120mm. The forewings of this impressive beast are a mottled montage of rich blues, sinister blacks and creamy browns with the hindwings a startling bright yellow with thick black bands. The thorax is blue with black markings and with a distinctive skull-shaped marking. The legs are dark with the rear two pairs sporting paler bands.  LARVA: The larva are bright green or yellow and like to feed on Potato plants, Nightshades and Jasmine. The bodies of the caterpillars sport blue diagonal stripes, or brown with grey stripes. They have a tail or 'horn' at the end of the body, which has a rough, bobbly surface. BEHAVIOUR:  Attracted to light. The adult is a honey thief with a thick cuticle that protects it from stings when in the bee nest. It is able to chemically mimic the scent of bees and so can easily enter hives and feast.  The adult can also emit an audible squeak when disturbed, a tactic used to deter predators. HABITAT: Usually seen in the UK around coastal areas with occasional records further in land. FLIGHT PERIOD: Can be seen as a migrant during late summer and early autumn. STATUS: Migrant.