Photo © Mike Wall

Elephant Hawk-moth

Deilephila elpenor

Checklist Number
69.016 [B&F: 1991]

Verification
Record will be accepted (subject to date and location checks)

Classification

Family:Sphingidae
Subfamily:Macroglossinae
Genus:Deilephila
Species:elpenor
Authority:(Linnaeus, 1758)

Common in hedgerows, gardens, woodland edges and heathland, and on rough grassland and sand-dunes throughout England, Wales and southern Scotland. Widely distributed and occasionally abundant throughout Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight. Wingspan 62-72 mm. Small Elephant Hawk-moth D. porcellus is superficially similar, but smaller, with forewing yellow and pink, not olive-green and pink. Larva feeds on Rosebay Willowherb, Great Willowherb, Lady's Bedstraw, Hedge Bedstraw, Heath Bedstraw and Marsh Bedstraw, over-wintering as a pupa.

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)