Skip to main content

Death's-head hawkmoth caterpillar

Acherontia lachesis

Photo by Scott Frazier
Published on Project Noah
Zoom
NominateNominate for Wildlife Photograph of the Month
reportFlag Spotting

-1.84375, 138.72

Field Notes

Description:

This is the most common color form of the Acherontia lachesis caterpillar. They also occur (with increasing rarity) in green, grey and dark forms.

Habitat:

Found in coastal zone lowland rainforest.

Notes:

See also https://www.flickr.com/photos/charaxes14/galleries/72157626244080364/ and http://lkcnhm.nus.edu.sg/nis/bulletin2011/2011nis101-114.pdf

Reference Links:

Acherontia lachesis Fabricius 1798, Acherontia lachesis, Papua Insects Foundation (Lepidoptera/Sphingidae/Acherontia lachesis)

Species ID Suggestions

Death's head hawkmoth caterpillar

Acherontia atropos

Reference Link
peter
5

Comments (14)
AngieFairs
Ive never seen one before, fantastic thank you for sharing :)
Latimeria
That's a neat twirl it has on its posterior horn, I've only seen hornworms with straight ones until now.
peter
Spotting of the day! "The skull pattern on a Death's-head Hawkmoth has been referenced in The Silence of the Lambs & Bram Stoker's Dracula." http://facebook.com/projectnoah/posts/133650286725938 http://twitter.com/projectnoah/status/100282608465879040
leahcklehn
It looks like a caterpillar dragon! So cool!
Scott Frazier
Thanks Peter and dandoucette for the suggestions and everyone for the compliments.
Dan Doucette
Peter is right with the ID. I saw this in Philippines. http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/6327887

Spotted for Missions

Mission
Butterflies & Moths of the World
Mission
Moths of the World
Mission
Caterpillars and larvae of the World

Tags

Photographed
PublishedJuly 29, 2011

Community Sponsor

Butterfly
Become a Community Sponsor and Help Grow our Global Movement!

Accelerate our Mission to Photograph 
Every Species in the World!

Butterflies icon
Become a Community Sponsor

Wildlife Community

Wildlife Community

Join a worldwide community passionate about wildlife and nature!

Join Project Noah

Nature School

Nature School

Transform your green space into a curiosity-creating nature classroom!

Visit Nature School

Wildlife Game

Wildlife Game

Defend wildlife throughout the jungle in thrilling nature game!

Play Baboon

Nature & Conservation Organizations

Brands & Mission-Focused Companies