Common Buckeye vs Death Head Hawk Moth

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Common Buckeye Death Head Hawk Moth
Scientific Name Junonia coenia Acherontia lachesis
Order Lepidoptera Lepidoptera
Family Nymphalidae Sphingidae
Size 42-55 mm wingspan 100-130 mm wingspan
Habitat Beaches & Coastal Farmland
Diet Predators Herbivores
Regions North America, Central America Asia
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Common Buckeye

Brown butterfly with prominent eyespots on all four wings. Eyespots deter predators by mimicking the eyes of larger animals.

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Did You Know?

Their large eyespots have been shown to startle birds into abandoning attacks.

Death Head Hawk Moth

An Asian death head moth that squeaks loudly and raids bee hives for honey.

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Did You Know?

It produces a chemical that mimics bee pheromones to avoid attack inside hives.