Flies by night, feeding after dark on honeysuckle. Comes to light. Can be found by day at rest by day, often on tree trunks and fence posts.

The larvae of this moth are more colourful than the grey-brown adult. Larva late June-mid September; can be found on young and mature trees, but prefers old needles to young shoots. Overwinters as pupa in loose leaf litter or just below the surface of the ground.

Flight Season

Flies from May to early August in one generation.

Size and Family

  • Family: Hawk-moths (Sphingidae)
  • Size: Large, 6.5-8cm wingspan

Particular Caterpillar Food Plants

The needles of Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris), but occasionally Cedar of Lebanon, Maritime Pine and Norway Spruce. 

Distribution

  • Countries: south and east Britain.
  • Slowly spreading to the north, due to increase in conifer plantations.
  • Common in continental Europe.

Habitat

Coniferous woodland or heathland, conifer plantations.

Pine Hawk-moth - Ervin Szombathelyi

Pine Hawk-moth

Pine Hawk-moth - Ervin Szombathelyi

Pine Hawk-moth

Pine Hawk-moth - Ryszard Szczygieł

Pine Hawk-moth

Pine Hawk-moth - Ryszard Szczygieł

Pine Hawk-moth

Pine Hawk-moth - Ryszard Szczygieł

Pine Hawk-moth

Pine Hawk-moth - Koen Thonissen

Pine Hawk-moth

Pine Hawk-moth - Marcell Kárpáti

Pine Hawk-moth

Pine Hawk-moth (male & female) - Ryszard Szczygieł

Pine Hawk-moth (male & female)

Pine Hawk-moth - Adam Gor

Pine Hawk-moth

Pine Hawk-moth (caterpillar) - Tapio Kujala

Pine Hawk-moth (caterpillar)

Pine Hawk-moth (caterpillar) - Ryszard Szczygieł

Pine Hawk-moth (caterpillar)