The females lay eggs singly on the leaves of the caterpillars food plants of rosebay willowherb and bedstraws. Occasional small second generations have been recorded in the southern counties of the UK. The nocturnal adult moth flies mostly in a single generation at night between May and July when it is attracted to light. The two large ‘eye-like’ markings behind the head also suggest a much larger animal, appearing startling to predators. When retracted the caterpillars head recoils giving the impression of a much larger head. The species is named after the caterpillars resemblance to an elephants trunk. It is also the most frequently seen hawk-moth caterpillar, often found feeding and wandering in search for somewhere to pupate in gardens.

The Elephant Hawk-moth caterpillar grows to 85mm in length and is one of the largest and most distinctive caterpillars to be found in the British Isles. Migrant Hawkmoths include The Death’s-head Hawkmoth, The Convolvulus Hawkmoth, The Striped Hawkmoth and The Oleander Hawkmoth The Eyed Hawkmoth, The Poplar Hawkmoth and The Lime Hawkmoth. Other common Hawkmoths are The Privet Hawkmoth, The two species are not so frequently seen together in garden light traps due to the Small Elephant Hawk-moths preference for more open countryside. When not seen side by side another useful identifying feature is the broken pink stripe extending down the middle of the Elephant Hawk-moth’s abdomen, a feature lacking in the Small Elephant Hawk-moth.

Only the smaller Small Elephant Hawk-moth shares the eye catching shades of pink, green and browns – although there are distinct differences in the shape and order of colour banding.īoth Elephant species are shown together with the larger Elephant Hawk-moth below the smaller Small Elephant Hawk-moth.

Keep checking back for updates, follow us on Instagram and like us on Facebook.The Elephant Hawk-moth is one of the most colourful and instantly recognisable moths in the British Isles. We are also always adding new features and new information. Please checkout our sources and acknowledgements pages for more. As with most educational websites, this one couldn’t be possible without lots of help and preexisting work. We also have a very comprehensive Hostplant Index that shows you what plants these insects eat, which can be found by clicking the button below or in the menu. This feature will help you identify some caterpillars you find in the wild. Interested in caterpillars? Checkout the “Final Instar Larva Key” by clicking the button below. You can find pictures, range information, rearing notes, ecology notes, and much more on each species page. Every level of taxonomy represented (Subfamily, Genus, species) is clickable and contains information.

You can find what species are on the website by clicking the “Sphingidae Index” button below, or by using the menu in the top left corner. Currently, this website has profiled about half of them. Approximately 135 species of these magnificent insects can be found in the USA. Sphingidae, also known as Hawk Moths and Sphinx Moths are found on every continent (except Antarctica) and are well known for being pollinators. This website gives you a detailed overview of the species of Sphingidae found in the United States. Welcome to Sphingidae of the United States of America.

Pellucid hawk moth caterpillar