The Iconic Moth Species That Squeaks
Butterflies and moths both belong to the Lepidoptera order of insects. Butterflies are one of the most beloved insects due to their colorful and delicate wings, but moths are, well…not so beloved. It goes without saying that moths are not the most fascinating of insects, and they certainly are not what most people would consider to be beautiful. However, there exists one particular moth species that many people may already be familiar with, and most would agree that this species possesses objective beauty due to the unique skull-like design located above its wings. For those of you who have not already guessed, this moth species became iconic following its appearance in the acclaimed film entitled The Silence of the Lambs.
While this moth’s appearance is well known to most people above the age of 30, very few people know its species name. Surprisingly, even entomologists are largely in the dark concerning this species nature, as it was last described by researchers during the early 1900s. The moth species in question is officially known as Acherontia atropos, or the death’s head hawkmoth, as it is more commonly known. In addition to being unique for having a skull-like design on its back, this moth species also produces an audible squeaking sound in order to deter predators.
The skull-like design on this moth species’ back explains why several past cultures regarded this insect species as an omen of death. What may be even more interesting than this moth’s natural design, is the squeaking sound it makes in order to scare away predators. Despite the fierce look of these moths, their squeak is just about the only form of defense that they possess. The death’s head hawkmoth is one of several moth species that produce squeaks in order to repel predators. These moths produce their squeaking sounds by rubbing specialized body parts together, similar to how crickets and cicadas produce their sounds. The last time that this moth was studied was back in 1920, but the study was published in German, which is part of the reason why this species was forgotten in the english speaking world. Now, researchers are excited to study this moth in order to better understand how it produces its squeaking sounds.
Have you ever seen a picture of a death’s head hawk moth?