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Acherontia styx (Westwood)
Taxonomic position
Insecta: Lepidoptera: Bombycoidea: Sphingidae: Sphinginae: Acherontiini
Common names
Death's head moth, death's head hawkmoth, gingelly and lablab sphinx, bee hunter
Habitat / Crop(s) damaged
Host plants recorded from India include brinjal, gingelly, groundnut, lablab, jasmine, Datura sp., Spathodea campanulata, Millingtonia hortensis, jamun, teak, etc.
Larvae are found on the underside of leaves which are defoliated from the margin. The larva is stout, greenish with yellowish oblique bands lined with blue / green, black spiracles and a yellowish horn / tail near the apex, and turns pink before pupation. The pupa is dark reddish brown. The adult moth has dark brownish fore wings and yellow hind wings with black markings, with a characteristic, skull-like marking on thorax from which its common name is derived.
Pest status
Minor. Adults are known to attack beehives for honey.
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