Butterfly setting and preservation
DEATH'S-HEAD HAWKMOTH
Lepidoptera setting and preservation in the cemetery with Suzette Field
Saturday 5th October 2024 from 3:30 pm

The name death's-head hawkmoth refers to any of the three brown and yellow nocturnal moth species of the genus Acherontia, found throughout Africa, Europe, and Asia. They are named for a patch of short yellowish hairs on the thorax, which resembles a human skull, and their association with death is further strengthened by their nocturnal nature.

Edgar Allan Poe fed upon this imagery in his short story "The Sphinx," which describes a close encounter with a death's-head sphinx moth. The species is also featured in the surrealist film "Un Chien Andalou" and the 1991 horror movie "The Silence of the Lambs," where the serial killer Buffalo Bill inserts a death’s-head moth into the mouths of his victims.

In this workshop, taxidermist Suzette Field will guide you through the preservation of the death's head moth. Each participant will receive materials to set and mount a moth in a frame, which you can take home at the end of the day. The workshop will begin with a talk on the legends and lore surrounding this intriguing member of the Lepidoptera family

Tickets £50 including all materials and a 20% donation toward a host of restoration projects at Kensal Green Cemetery.

Suzette Field
Suzette Field is a writer, impresario, graphic artist and taxidermist. She was one of the founders of The Modern Times Club and for seven years co-ran The Last Tuesday Society. Since 2014 she has run A Curious Invitation, an organisation devoted to bringing parties, talks and workshops to London and beyond. She has collected and taught taxidermy for over 10 years.

Kensal Green Cemetery Chapel