Found in the hive

[Psycad]

Opened the hive today and found these two in the hive.

Are these the Hornets or something else ?

 

[Hivemaker.]

Death's-Head Hawkmoth.

 

[Psycad]

The ones from Silence of the lambs ?

Do they eat the honey ?

 

[Hivemaker.]

Do they eat the honey ?

Yes.

This species is known for entering bee hives in search of the honey”

When stealing honey, the moth gets past guard bees using its thick cuticle and resistance to bee venom. Once inside the hive the moth can move around unmolested by mimicking the scent of the bees [1]. It has also been rumoured that the moth can generate a sound that ‘paralyses’ the bees. It is certainly true that all three species have the ability to emit a loud squeak if irritated

http://www.arnia.co.uk/deaths-head-hawkmoth-honey-bees-biggest-predator/


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCfplfBNW_I

http://www.beekeepingforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=34167&highlight=death+head+hawk+moth

 

[Psycad]

Thank you Hivemaker
Great info.

I thought (after silence of the lambs)that it was an american butterfly.
I have never seen one here, only the oleander moth I have seen

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daphnis_nerii

Since I find two death in the hive, are there more here ? Should I make entry of hive smaller ?

Salaam

 

[Psycad]

Hivemaker, your diagnosis confirmed !
This morning I found at hive entrance bees killing another Death Heads Hawkmoth.
Was freshly killed and in good condition.

I guess there seems to be a few in the area but the bees seems to be able to kill them.

Will try to upload a picture (smaller size)

Salaam

 

[Psycad]

Trying a Picture

 

[enrico]

I wonder what they had for desert!
E

 

[Psycad]

I wonder if I have to reduce hive entrance

 

[Psycad]

I send the pic to a UK specialist. Tony Pittaway, specialized in these insects.

His website :
http://tpittaway.tripod.com/sphinx/list.htm

He send me following answer :

These are not Acherontia atropos but A. styx, an eastern species which is quite common in the UAE. Have a look at http://tpittaway.tripod.com/sphinx/a_sty.htm for details.
As this species co-evolved with the eastern Apis cerana, if it enters the hives of Apis mellifera it is immediately recognized as an intruder and stung to death -- it does not 'smell' right. Adults of A. atropos 'smell' like the queen of A. mellifera and usually manage to fool the bees.

For those of you interested, this is the link of the 4 (!) I found in the hive

http://tpittaway.tripod.com/sphinx/a_sty.htm

Fascinating !

Salaam