Common names:
|
Death's Head Hawkmoth
(English)
No Namibian names were recorded |
Pest status:
|
The adult hawkmoth is attracted
to strong lights and is therefore often found resting on walls near the
security light early in the morning. It is common and widespread in Northern
Namibia but reports of damage are rare. |
Host range:
|
Acherontia atropos mainly
feeds on Solanum species such as potato and tomato but the host range includes
many other species as well. The moth is well known to visit beehives and
eat honey from these hives. |
Description:
|
A large moth with a wing span of
about 10-12 cm. Wing colours are dark grey to dark brown. Note the distinct
death's head on the thorax that has given the species its common name.
The caterpillar is as large as a
man's finger and has a conspicous yellow 'horn' at the back. There are
different colour variations among the caterpillars but most are yellow-green
with clear blue stripes on the side.
The adult moth flies at night and
is seldom noticed until it is found resting on walls under the security
lights next morning. If the moth is touched it sends out a snearing or
clicking sound to scare away the disturber. Apart from the dramatic name
and the surprising sound, however, it is absolutely harmless. |
Control:
|
Chemical control is not recommended
as the species is seldom of any economic importance. If an attack should
occur, the large caterpillar can be hand picked from the plants. The caterpillars
may looks dramatic and dangerous but they won't sting or harm humans. |
Other notes:
|
A rare attack was noticed at the
Forestry nursery at Ongwediva Training College during December 1999. The
20-30 cm high seedlings of Sausage tree
(Kigelia africana) were
crowded with fully grown caterpillars of Acherontia atropos. It
looked like a single egg laying from the hawkmoth. The seedlings were being
defoliated rapidly.
After the photo session, I tried
to transfer caterpillars to a neighbour sweet potato plant (see photos
above) but most of them clung so well to the seedlings of Kigelia
that I gave them up. Handpicking would simply have pulled ud the seedlings.
Over the years, specimens of this
hawkmoth have been found dead or at rest at lights around Ogongo College,
Omusati region and especially at Ongwediva, Oshana region. It is expected
to be widespread but is seldom found in large numbers. |
