^^ 



147. 

 ACHERONTIA ATROPOS. 



The Death's-head Hawk-moth or Bee-tiger. 



Order Lepidoptera. Fam. Sphingidae. 



Type of the Genus Sphinx Atropos Linn. 



AcHERONTiA Och., Lat. Sphinx Linn., Fab., Lat., Haw. Spectrum 

 Scop. 



AntenncE inserted close to the eyes at the back part of the head, 

 scarcely fusiform, subprismatic, more robust in the male than 

 female, uncinated, covered with scales above, and ciliated with 

 fascicles of hair beneath in the males (fig. 1 a) : basal joint robust 

 hairy, the remainder short transverse, terminal joints forming a 

 hook terminated by a long setaceous seta covered with hairs (lb). 

 Labrum none. 

 Mandibles remote ciliated, 



Maxillce spiral, short, horny, robust, hairy beneath at the base, 

 composed of numerous transverse rings, having a few rows of 

 punctures largest towards the apex (3). 



Labial Palpi 2, not porrected, lying close to the head, densely 

 covered with hair on the outside, naked inside, the 2nd joint 

 being hollow and partially covered by a thick regular row of 

 hairs (4) ; 3-jointed, basal joint curved, 2nd dilated ovate, con- 

 vex externally, 3rd small obtuse, with a deep fovea on the outer 

 side (4 a). 



Head, thorax, abdomen and legs densely covered with short pile. 

 Wings deflexed in repose, velvety, the lower ones having a hook or 

 catch at the exterior edge to retain those above. Cilia very short. 

 Claws strong very distinct. 



Caterpillars with 6 pectoral, 8 abdominal and 2 anal feet, the horn 

 tuberculated, curved at the apex. 



Atropos Linn. Syst. Nat. t. 2. p. 799. n. 9. Haw. p. 56. n. 1. 



Antennse and proboscis blackish, the apex of the former white. 

 Head and thorax cinereous black, the latter having an orange 

 mark resembling the front view of a cranium. Abdomen black, 

 grayish down the back, with 5 or 6 orange spots on each side. 

 Superior wings black, variegated with ferruginous minutely 

 spotted with white, having several black transverse interrupted 

 waved lines, one near the base and two others nearer the apex 

 ochraceous, and a spot towards the middle of the same colour : 

 inferior wings orange with 2 black indented fasciae parallel to, 

 but not touching, the margin. 



In the Author's and other Cabinets. 



