Deaths head Hawk moth is a photograph by Weston Westmoreland which was uploaded on February 23rd, 2014.
Title
Deaths head Hawk moth
Artist
Weston Westmoreland
Medium
Photograph
Description
Deaths head Hawk moth.
A surprisingly beautiful moth of impressive size made famous by the movie the Silence of the Lambs, the acherontia was believed to announce death because of the skull shaped image on her thorax. However, this peculiar moth lives off stealing honey from beehives and can softly screech when stressed.
I happened to have a beehive inside my house walls which we voted on (wife and kids) and decided to keep. They bees returned for a few years and these moths begun to visit. Acherontias live like one month and then they die. When I found them outdoors around the house flying recklessly during daytime I would carefully place them in a dark room so they could recover or die in peace. In the night I would open the windows so they could leave. I had like eight visits in a single summer-autumn. Three of them died. This is one of them. I would never hunt or kill such magnificent creature.
One year, the bees didn't return and neither did the acherontias. I had never seen one before the bees came to my house for lodging and I have not seen a single one since. But now I know they are out there. I kind of miss them, though. And the bees too.
More amazing wildlife one copy-paste away in my gallery at http://westonwestmoreland.com/collections/fauna
Weston Westmoreland
Uploaded
February 23rd, 2014
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Comments (5)
Mike Nahorniak
Wow, very cool! If you pay attention there are so many fascinating sites all over! F/V
Weston Westmoreland
Thanks to Al Powell Photography USA for Featuring this photograph in his group Nocturnal Nature
Al Powell Photography USA
Magnificent Moth, Weston. This image is now Featured on the "Nocturnal Nature" group home page.
Alexandria Weaselwise Busen
Beautiful!
Weston Westmoreland replied:
Thank you, Alex. They are indeed impressive in picture and all the more so in nature. I have had them walking my hands and they are big and heavy, with huge eyes. You can feel these little hooks they have in their legs. First one I met came into my house at night through the open door while I was watching a movie. I couldn't see what it was, but it was so noisy! :)
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