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Description
A. lachesis is much larger than Acherontia styx. The segmental bands and grey stripe occupy so much of the abdomen that only small patches of yellow are left. The hindwing has a large black patch at the base. The medial and post-medial bands are so broad that only narrow bands of yellow remain. The ventral side of the abdomen is banded with black and the wings are banded with black and have a spot in the cell of each. the larva differs from A. styx in having blue streaks above the yellow ones; before pupating it turns brown and the oblique streaks disappear.
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Life history
Eggs are laid on a variety of host plants belonging to the families Solanaceae, Verbenaceae, Fabaceae, Oleaceae, Bignoniaceae, and others. Mature larvae can attain a length of 125 mm and occur in green, yellow and brownish-grey colour forms (most commonly grey), with oblique body stripes and a prickly tail horn that is curled at the extreme tip. When molested the caterpillar throws the head and anterior segments of the body from side to side, at the same time making a rapidly repeated clicking noise, which appears to be produced by the mandibles. The larva pupates by pushing its head into the earth, burying itself, and making an ovoid chamber about 15 cm below the surface in which it sheds its skin.
The larvae are often parasitised by tachinid flies.
Subspecies
- Acherontia lachesis lachesis
- Acherontia lachesis diehli Eitschberger, 2003
Ecology
The moth rests with the wings folded with the abdomen completely covered. When disturbed it raises its body from the surface on which it is sitting and partially opens and raises its wings and emits a squealing note. Notable predators are mostly parasitoids such as Amblyjoppa cognatoria, Quandrus pepsoides and Drino atropivora.
Host plants
In their distribution countries, caterpillars are found on variety of plants such as Campsis grandiflora, Jasminum; Nicotiana tabacum; Tectona grandis; Datura; Ipomoea batatas; Clerodendrum kaempferi; Erythrina speciosa; Clerodendrum quadriloculare; Lantana camara; Sesamum indicum; Solanum spp., including: Solanum tuberosum, S. torvum, S. melongena; Stachytarpheta indica, Tithonia diversifolia; Spathodea campanulata; Vitex pinnata; Psilogramma menophron; and Clerodendrum inerme.
A. lachesis is not the species of death's head used in the promotional posters for The Silence of the Lambs. That is Acherontia atropos.