
Small Elephant Hawk-moth
The adults are nocturnal, flying from dusk and coming to light, resting by day amongst its foodplants. They feed from honeysuckle (Lonicera) and other tubular flowers on the wing.
The larvae are usually seen when looking for somewhere to pupate, or when resting on stems in good weather, as they are very large, with noticeable eye markings. They overwinter as pupae in fragile cocoons at the base of plants in loose plant debris/litter, or just below the surface of the ground.
Flies from May to July in one generation.
Rosebay Willowherb (Epilobium angustifolium), other willowherbs, bedstraws (Galium), Enchanter’s Nightshade, fuchsias and Himalyan Balsalm ().
A variety of habitats, often where Rosebay Willowherb is present, such as rough grassland, waste ground and clearings, hedgerows, heathland, sand dunes, woodland (rides and clearings) and gardens.
Elephant Hawk-moth - Ryszard Szczygieł
Ryszard Szczygieł
Elephant Hawk-moth - Pete Withers
Pete Withers
Elephant Hawk-moth - Heath McDonald
Heath McDonald
Elephant Hawk-moth - Heath McDonald
Heath McDonald
Elephant Hawk-moth - Heath McDonald
Heath McDonald
Elephant Hawk-moth - Alan Cann
Alan Cann
Elephant Hawk-moth (caterpillar/green form) - Bob Eade
Bob Eade
Elephant Hawk-moth (caterpillar) - Heath McDonald
Heath McDonald