From: Pierre@home.be (Pierre)
Subject: Insects - Finished > File 05 of 11 - PO_Ins_095_Sphinx_ tête-de-mort_(Acherontia_atropos).jpg
Date: Mon, 27 Nov 2000 18:02:26 GMT
Newsgroups: alt.binaries.pictures.artpics

Acherontia atropos is a species of moth that is commonly known as the African death's-head hawkmoth. It is one of three species within the genus Acherontia, the other two being Acherontia lachesis and Acherontia styx. The moth is most commonly identified by the vaguely skull-shaped pattern adorning the thorax, the characteristic from which its common and scientific names are derived. The species is found throughout much of Africa and in the southern part of Europe, from where it is considered to be a native species. The moth is large, ranging from 80–120 mm as adults. It is a powerful flier, having sometimes been found on ships far from land. The upper wings are dark, creating a stark contrast between them and the lower wings, which range from a bright yellow to a light cream, yellow being the more common. The abdomen is a similar orangey-brown, with a broad, dark dorsal stripe. The most notable feature is a patch of short yellowish hairs on the thorax that gives the impression of depicting a human skull. It is a striking insect, but is seldom seen because it flies late in the night. The wing and body structure of A. atropos is typical of that seen in the family Sphingidae.

Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Sphingidae
Genus: Acherontia
Species: Acherontia atropos (Linnaeus, 1758)