Photo © Mike Wall

Bedstraw Hawk-moth

Hyles gallii

Checklist Number
69.014 [B&F: 1987]

Verification
Record will require further evidence, at least a good photograph, unless CMR is aware recorder has confidence in identification

Classification

Family:Sphingidae
Subfamily:Macroglossinae
Genus:Hyles
Species:gallii
Authority:(Rottemburg, 1775)

Immigrant from southern Europe, appearing almost anywhere in Britain, but mostly in the south and east, in some years arriving in sufficient numbers to breed and perhaps now established in East Anglia. There are scattered records throughout Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, with the most northerly being one at Sherborne St John in August 2003. Wingspan 64-78 mm. The most likely confusion species is Spurge Hawk-moth H. euphorbiae, which see for differences. Larva feeds on Wild Madder, Rosebay Willowherb and various species of bedstraw, perhaps unable to survive cold winters in the United Kingdom.

The abundance in each month is indicated as follows:

No records
Very occasional
Irregular
Uncommon
Off-peak, but not unusual
Off-peak, but not unusual
Main flight time
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Adult
Larval

Records by week (adult)

Records by week (larval)

VC10 Isle of Wight

Site Date Quantity Recorder Stage
Freshwater (SZ38)1859fourNick MontegriffoLarval
Freshwater (SZ38)1859twoMoreAdult
Freshwater (SZ38)14/07/1955oneMoreAdult
Freshwater (SZ38)1956oneSam Knill-JonesAdult
St Helens (SZ68)02/08/1959oneRobin Knill-JonesAdult
Combley Great Wood (SZ58)03/08/1981oneD W H FfennellAdult
nr Sandown Pier (SZ58)01/09/1991oneClouterAdult
Bonchurch (SZ57)18/08/2010oneM BuckleyAdult
Brook Down (SZ38)25/07/2012oneJames HalseyAdult
Bonchurch (SZ57)27/08/2013oneMark HallettAdult
Ryde (SZ59)18/08/2014oneJames HalseyLarval
Ryde (SZ59)18/08/2014oneSteve LuckettLarval
Sandown (SZ68)15/07/2021oneSteve LuckettAdult

VC11 South Hampshire

Site Date Quantity Recorder Stage
Burley, NF (SU20)30/07/1937oneSue RittmanAdult
Southsea (SZ69)06/07/1945-C W Mackworth-PraedLarval
Rowlands Castle (SU71)12/07/1955oneSperringAdult
Fordingbridge (SU11)14/08/1955oneF C StanleyAdult
Brockenhurst (SU20)24/07/1956oneCW Mackworth-PraedAdult
Rhinefield, NF (SU20)01/08/1973twoMaggsLarval
Botley Wood (SU50)01/08/1973oneG J NixonAdult
Boldre, NF (SZ39)01/08/1973oneC J LuckensAdult
Minstead (SU21)01/08/1973oneH G M MiddletonAdult
Minstead (SU21)01/08/1973oneL W SiggsAdult
Fareham (SU50)01/08/1983oneL W SiggsAdult
Brockenhurst (SU20)03/04/1985oneC J LuckensAdult
Lymington (SZ39)06/04/1985oneRusswormAdult
Chandlers Ford (SU42)30/06/1995oneTony PicklesAdult
Southsea (SZ69)20/07/1997oneBarry GoaterAdult
Southampton (SU41)15/06/2003oneJohn R LangmaidAdult
Bishopstoke (SU42)14/07/2004oneUnknownAdult
Totton (SU31)01/08/200520Peter W HooperLarval
Titchfield Haven NNR (SU50)16/08/2006oneMargaret TryhornAdult
Sholing (SU41)10/09/2006-Barry DuffinAdult
Sholing (SU41)10/09/2006oneAndrew CollinsAdult
Winchester (SU42)31/08/2012twoAndrew CollinsLarval
Horsea Island (SU60)03/09/2013oneChris PinesAdult
Horsea Island (SU60)03/09/2013oneFareham Moth GroupAdult
Southsea (SZ69)27/07/2014oneFareham Moth GroupAdult
Fareham (SU50)05/08/2014oneJohn R LangmaidAdult
Sandy Point (SZ79)13/08/2018oneKeith WheelerAdult
Sway (SZ29)10/09/2020oneAndy JohnsonAdult
Itchen Valley CP (SU41)16/07/2021oneSheila & Steve LankesterAdult
Gosport (SZ69)26/07/2021oneChris ThainAdult
Blackfield (SU40)09/08/2023oneUnknownAdult

VC12 North Hampshire

Site Date Quantity Recorder Stage
Farringdon (SU73)11/08/1952oneSteven J JacksonAdult
Whitehill (SU73)30/07/1955oneH S RobinsonAdult
Micheldever (SU54)18/08/1955oneD WrightAdult
Farringdon (SU73)21/07/1961oneCH DixonAdult
Northwood (SU43)16/07/1983oneE A SadlerAdult
East Stratton (SU54)08/06/1992oneReg A BellAdult
Odiham Common (SU75)27/06/1995oneBrian Ivon-JonesAdult
Sherborne St John (SU65)04/08/2003oneTony DavisAdult
Alresford (SU53)10/07/2009oneNick MontegriffoAdult
Basingstoke (SU54)26/08/2013oneWinston ChurchillAdult
Chilbolton (SU33)31/05/2014oneGlyn HenwoodAdult
Cheriton (SU52)26/07/2014oneGlynne EvansAdult