Death Head Hawkmoth vs Arctic Click Beetle
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Death Head Hawkmoth | Arctic Click Beetle |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Acherontia atropos | Hypnoidus riparius |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Coleoptera |
| Family | Sphingidae | Elateridae |
| Size | 100-130 mm wingspan | 4-7 mm |
| Habitat | Farmland | Tundra & Arctic |
| Diet | Herbivores | Herbivores |
| Regions | Africa, Europe, Asia | Scandinavia, Iceland, Scotland, northern Russia, Arctic Canada |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Death Head Hawkmoth
Famous for the skull-like pattern on its thorax. Can emit a loud squeak when disturbed. Raids beehives by mimicking bee scent to steal honey.
Did You Know?
Deaths-head hawkmoths invade beehives by releasing a chemical that mimics the scent of bees, allowing them to walk in unbothered and feast on honey.
Arctic Click Beetle
A small, brown click beetle with a distinctive snapping mechanism that allows it to flip itself upright when overturned. Larvae are wireworms that live in tundra soil. Adults are found under stones and in low vegetation.
Did You Know?
When flipped on its back, this beetle arches its body and snaps a spine on its thorax into a groove, launching itself into the air with an audible click.