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Rare Death's-Head Moth Discovered in UK School
9 Sep
Summary
- A giant African death's-head hawkmoth was found in a school compost bin.
- The moth has a distinctive skull-like marking and a 14cm wingspan.
- The species is rarely seen in the UK and is famous from Silence of the Lambs.
An African death's-head hawkmoth, a species famously depicted in the film "Silence of the Lambs," has been discovered in a compost bin at Wicor Primary School in Portchester, Hampshire. This rare visitor from southern Europe and Africa possesses a striking skull-like marking on its head and a wingspan that can reach up to 14cm.
Horticulturalist Louise Moreton encountered the moth by its distinctive mouse-like squeak, mistaking it initially for a rodent. She emphasized the "once-in-a-lifetime" educational opportunity this presents for the school's children, who will observe the moth before its planned release.
Experts from Butterfly Conservation highlighted that while the moth's caterpillars feed on potato plants, they cannot survive the British winter. The species is considered an uncommon visitor to the UK, capable of breeding during the summer months.
