Death Head Hawkmoth vs Common Mime
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Death Head Hawkmoth | Common Mime |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Acherontia atropos | Papilio clytia |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Sphingidae | Papilionidae |
| Size | 100-130 mm wingspan | 80-100 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Farmland | Farmland |
| Diet | Herbivores | Nectar Feeders |
| Regions | Africa, Europe, Asia | Southeast Asia (Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, Malaysia, Indonesia, Cambodia, Laos) |
| 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.
Common Mime
A polymorphic swallowtail butterfly that exists in two main forms: one mimicking the toxic Common Crow and the other mimicking the Blue Tiger. Both forms lack the typical swallowtail tails.
Did You Know?
The two distinct forms are controlled by a single genetic switch, making it one of the best examples of genetic polymorphism in butterflies.