A new interpretation of the 'skull' of the Death's-head Hawk-moth Acherontia atropos (Linnaeus, 1758) (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae)

Abstract

If viewed upside-down, the entire Death's-head Hawk-moth Acherontia atropos (Linnaeus, 1758) conveys an illusion of an eyed head. The famous skull-like mark on the thorax becomes a 'nose' and its eye-sockets become 'nostrils'. Discal spots on the forewings become small 'eyes' and other features appear as 'ears', 'muzzle' and 'lips'. A very similar illusion is conveyed by Convolvulus Hawk-moth Agrius convolvuli (Linnaeus, 1758). Photographs are shown of those two species and of similar images in five species of moths. Possibilities are discussed of eyedhead illusions in other hawk-moths and in noctuid moths. The function of such images is almost certainly to deter, distract or otherwise deceive predators.