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What the sources say

Death's-Head HawkmothAcherontia atropos

Every figure, record and mechanism on the Death's-Head Hawkmoth profile was written from a source, and this is the working table behind it: 49 claims checked word for word against these sources. The left column is what the page says. The right column is the source's own words, copied, not paraphrased; a ... marks a cut and[brackets] an insertion. Open any source and check it yourself.

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Source
01

Butterfly Conservation

Death's-head Hawk-moth (Acherontia atropos). Butterfly Conservation.

The page saysA big night-flying moth that squeaks when alarmed and is known to raid beehives for honey with a short, sharp tongue.
The source saysThe adults emit a squeak when alarmed, made by expelling air through its proboscis (tongue)Note: tagline; night-flying and honey: next claims
The page saysA big night-flying moth
The source saysThe species is nocturnal, only usually seen in light traps and sometimes in beehives in search of honey.Note: tagline; big = Wingspan 80-120mm, next claim
The page saysSouthern Europe
The source saysDistribution Countries: Southern Europe Immigrant.Note: stats.habitat
The page saysan immigrant to Britain, where it reaches south and east England most years
The source saysImmigrant. Most years in south and east EnglandNote: stats.habitat
The page saysHoney, sometimes sought in beehives
The source sayssometimes in beehives in search of honeyNote: stats.diet
The page sayscaterpillars eat potato, deadly nightshade and other nightshade-family plants
The source saysPotato (Solanum tuberosum), Deadly Nightshade ( Atropa belladonna ) and other Solanacea.Note: stats.diet; Solanaceae is the nightshade family
The page saysNot Evaluated
The source saysDeath’s-head Hawk-moth Acherontia atroposNote: stats.conservationStatus. The global field stays Not Evaluated: the only Red List assessment is the 2024 Europe one (cited in the FAQ, read in Chrome 2026-10-12), so the page makes no global claim. GBIF's copy of the Red List reports NOT_EVALUATED. Precedent: honeybee, buff-tailed bumblebee.
The page saysThe death's-head hawkmoth (Acherontia atropos) is a big, night-flying moth with a party trick.
The source saysThe species is nocturnalNote: 'big': see wingspan claim below
The page saysWhen it is alarmed, it squeaks.
The source saysThe adults emit a squeak when alarmed
The page saysWith a wingspan of 80 to 120 mm, it is a large moth.
The source saysWingspan Range - 80-120mmNote: also 'Large Sized' on the page
The page saysIt lives in southern Europe.
The source saysDistribution Countries: Southern Europe Immigrant.Note: reviewer: 'home' read as its only range, which the Pakistan record contradicts
The page saysMost years it arrives in south and east England as an immigrant, and it has been spotted as far north as the Shetland Islands.
The source saysImmigrant. Most years in south and east England, although has been spotted as far north as the Shetlands
The page saysIts caterpillars feed on potato, deadly nightshade and other nightshade-family plants, and in a good immigration year they can be seen in potato fields.
The source saysin a good immigration year it can be seen in potato fieldsNote: food plants: Potato (Solanum tuberosum), Deadly Nightshade ( Atropa belladonna ) and other Solanacea.
The page saysThe moth cannot survive British winters.
The source saysthe moth is unable to survive winters in the UK
The page saysIn Britain, caterpillars pupate (change into the resting stage before the adult) underground between August and October.
The source sayspupating underground from August to October
The page saysAdults found in Britain are typically seen in those same months.
The source saysAdults found in the UK are typically seen between August and October.

Source
02

Brehm et al. 2015

Brehm et al. (2015). The unique sound production of the Death’s-head hawkmoth (Acherontia atropos (Linnaeus, 1758)) revisited. The Science of Nature.

The page saysit squeaks, drawing air into its pharynx (throat) and pushing it back out.
The source saysproduce short squeaks by drawing in and deflating air into and out of the pharynxNote: reviewer: replaced the Butterfly Conservation reed-in-the-proboscis account with the primary paper's pharyngeal mechanism
The page saysScientists studied six of these moths with X-ray video and sound recordings.
The source sayswe observed the sound production in vivo with X-ray videography, mammography CT and high-speed videography. Third, we analysed acoustic pressure over time and spectral frequency composition of six A. atropos specimens
The page saysOne squeak lasts about 200 milliseconds.
The source saysSingle squeaks of A. atropos last for ca. 200 ms
The page saysIt opens with a burst of about 50 pulses as air is drawn in, with its strongest frequency at about 8 kHz and harmonics reaching past 60 kHz.
The source saysThe inflation phase is characterised by a burst of ca. 50 pulses with decreasing pulse frequency and a major frequency peak at ca. 8 kHz, followed by harmonics ranging up to more than 60 kHzNote: inflation phase = air drawn in (abstract: 'drawing in and deflating air'); strongest frequency = major frequency peak
The page saysAfter a short pause, the air goes back out in a quieter phase.
The source saysconsist of an inflation phase, a short pause and a deflation phaseNote: quieter: 'The deflation phase is characterised by a less clear acoustic pattern, a lower amplitude'
The page saysThe researchers call the squeak a defence mechanism.
The source saysproduce short squeaks by drawing in and deflating air into and out of the pharynx as a defence mechanism
The page saysResearchers call it a defence mechanism: adults squeak when they are disturbed.
The source saysWhen disturbed, adults of the Death's-head hawkmoth (Lepidoptera, Sphingidae: Acherontia atropos) produce short squeaks by drawing in and deflating air into and out of the pharynx as a defence mechanismNote: faq 1
The page saysWith it removed, the moths still squeaked, but each squeak was significantly shorter and quieter, with a slightly narrower range of frequencies.
The source saysThe removal of the proboscis resulted in a significantly shortened squeak, a lower acoustic pressure level and a slightly more limited frequency spectrumNote: faq 1; 'plays a part' rests on the same result
The page sayseach squeak lasts about 200 milliseconds
The source saysSingle squeaks of A. atropos last for ca. 200 msNote: vibe.reason
The page saysopens with a burst of about 50 pulses
The source saysThe inflation phase is characterised by a burst of ca. 50 pulsesNote: vibe.reason

Source
03

Reinwald et al. 2022

Reinwald et al. (2022). Evolutionary functional morphology of the proboscis and feeding apparatus of hawk moths (Sphingidae: Lepidoptera). Journal of Morphology.

The page saysis known to raid beehives for honey with a short, sharp tongue
The source saysThese cleptoparasitic hawk moths are known to invade beehives of Apis mellifera and are capable of penetrating sealed honeycombsNote: tagline; short, sharp proboscis: stout 12.4 mm, sharply pointed (claims below)
The page saysSqueaks when alarmed, and can get into sealed honeycombs
The source saysare capable of penetrating sealed honeycombsNote: stats.superpower; squeak: bc-deaths-head 'emit a squeak when alarmed'
The page saysits short proboscis ends in a sharp point
The source saysthe short but specialized proboscis of A. atroposNote: stats.superpower; sharp point: 'The tip is smooth and sharply pointed'
The page saysIn the two moths one 2022 study measured, the stout proboscis was 10.8 and 12.4 mm long.
The source saysAcherontia atropos 53.1 10.8 20 1 55.4 12.4 22Note: Table 2 (columns: body length mm, proboscis length mm, % of body length, coils), two individuals; 'stout proboscis (12.4 mm long)' in the Figure 1 caption; four A. atropos studied in Table 1
The page saysIt ends in a sharp point
The source saysThe tip is smooth and sharply pointed while displaying one large opening of the food canal.
The page saysa tip shape the researchers call unique within the whole order of moths and butterflies.
The source saysThe distinct proboscis tip morphology in A. atropos is unique within the Sphingidae and even the entire lepidopteran order.Note: lepidopteran order = moths and butterflies
The page saysThese moths are known to invade beehives of the honey bee (Apis mellifera) and can penetrate sealed honeycombs.
The source saysThese cleptoparasitic hawk moths are known to invade beehives of Apis mellifera and are capable of penetrating sealed honeycombs
The page saysThe proboscis is most likely an adaptation for getting honey inside a hive, and its length matches the depth of a honeycomb, typically 12.5 to 17.7 mm.
The source saysthe short but specialized proboscis of A. atropos is most likely an adaptation to the moth's way of obtaining honey inside beehives. The length of the proboscis matches the depth of the honeycombs, which are typically 12.5–17.7 mm deep
The page saysA 2022 study of hawk moth mouthparts calls these moths cleptoparasites of honey bees
The source saysThese cleptoparasitic hawk moths are known to invade beehives of Apis melliferaNote: faq 2; 'meaning they take food that another animal collected' is a definition
The page saysIt says they are known to break into hives and get through the wax-sealed honeycombs.
The source saysare known to invade beehives of Apis mellifera and are capable of penetrating sealed honeycombsNote: faq 2; wax: 'piercing through the wax seals of the honeycombs'

Source
04

Kornev et al. 2017

Kornev et al. (2017). Structural and physical determinants of the proboscis–sucking pump complex in the evolution of fluid-feeding insects. Scientific Reports.

The page saysHoney is also 10 to 100 times thicker (more viscous) than nectar.
The source saysManduca sexta feeding on nectar, which is 10–100 times less viscous than honeyNote: thicker = more viscous

Source
05

Theobald, Warrant & O'Carroll 2009

Theobald, Warrant & O'Carroll (2009). Wide-field motion tuning in nocturnal hawkmoths. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences.

The page saysThis moth is fully nocturnal and does not hover as it feeds.
The source saysAcherontia atropos (a fully nocturnal hawkmoth that does not hover as it feeds uniquely from honey in bees' nests)

Source
06

Craik 2020

Craik (2020). A new interpretation of the 'skull' of the Death's-head Hawk-moth Acherontia atropos (Linnaeus, 1758) (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae). Entomologist's Gazette.

The page saysThe thorax (the middle body section) carries a famous skull-like mark.
The source saysThe famous skull-like mark on the thorax
The page saysA 2020 paper offers a new reading of it: viewed upside-down, the whole moth gives the illusion of an eyed head.
The source saysIf viewed upside-down, the entire Death's-head Hawk-moth Acherontia atropos (Linnaeus, 1758) conveys an illusion of an eyed head.Note: 2020 is the reference's year; 'new reading' from the title 'A new interpretation of the skull'
The page saysThe skull's "eye-sockets" become nostrils, and spots on the forewings become small eyes.
The source saysThe famous skull-like mark on the thorax becomes a 'nose' and its eye-sockets become 'nostrils'. Discal spots on the forewings become small 'eyes'
The page saysIn the author's view, the function of such images is almost certainly to deter, distract or otherwise deceive predators.
The source saysThe function of such images is almost certainly to deter, distract or otherwise deceive predators.

Source
07

Bodlah et al. 2025

Bodlah et al. (2025). First record of Deaths Head Hawkmoth Acherontia atropos (Linnaeus, 1758) (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae), A Kleptoparasite of Honey Bees from Rahim Yar Khan, Punjab, Pakistan. Journal of Agriculture and Veterinary Science.

The page saysalso recorded raiding honey bee colonies in Punjab, Pakistan
The source saysThis study presents the first documented record of Acherontia atropos in the role of a kleptoparasite preying upon honey bees in the Rahim Yar Khan, southern most district of Punjab, Pakistan.Note: stats.habitat
The page saysIn 2025, researchers reported the first documented record of it as a cleptoparasite of honey bees in Rahim Yar Khan, the southernmost district of Punjab, Pakistan.
The source saysThis study presents the first documented record of Acherontia atropos in the role of a kleptoparasite preying upon honey bees in the Rahim Yar Khan, southern most district of Punjab, Pakistan.Note: published 2025-03-01 per the journal page

Source
08

van Deijk, Parsons & van Swaay 2026

van Deijk, Parsons & van Swaay (2026). Acherontia atropos. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2026: e.T260200203A260200213.

The page saysNot in Europe.
The source saysSCOPE OF ASSESSMENT EuropeNote: FAQ; the assessment's scope is Europe, so the answer claims nothing wider
The page saysThe Red List's 2024 Europe assessment
The source saysAcherontia atropos has most recently been assessed for The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species in 2024Note: FAQ; assessed in 2024 per the abstract
The page sayslast assessed on 2 May 2024
The source saysLAST ASSESSED 02 May 2024
The page saysrates it Least Concern
The source saysAcherontia atropos is listed as Least Concern.
The page sayswith a stable population trend
The source saysSCOPE OF ASSESSMENT Europe POPULATION TREND Stable

How the table was made: a writer drafted the profile from these sources and logged each claim with its quote, a reviewer with nothing but this table checked every sentence said no more than its quote, and a script confirmed each quote appears word for word in the source. The method is in the site'sAbout page.