A large hawk moth crawling up a tree in Bangkok's Rama IX Park. In Thai, hawk moths are known as mot yihaw. Their wings are narrow and their abdomens streamlined, allowing them to fly fast, with certain species allegedly reaching speeds of over 50 kilometers per hour, making them some of the fastest flying insects in the world.

The moth seen here is a species of Death Head Hawk Moth, a name that refers to the pattern on its thorax, that resembles a human skull. A few species are also able to hover in midair and have the capability to move swiftly from side to side whilst hovering.