Having a wander around the highlands, I came upon this beauty today. Turns out it’s an elephant hawk moth, body 2 to 3” with a wing span of up to 8”!
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Massive moth
- Thread starter woodspirits
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Having a wander around the highlands, I came upon this beauty today. Turns out it’s an elephant hawk moth, body 2 to 3” with a wing span of up to 8”!
They're stunning looking things. Oddly I see loads of the caterpillars but I've only ever seen one or two adults.
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Maybe that’s the way their reproduction works? Many, many larvae with only a few surviving to adulthood?
I guess so. The caterpillars are big scary looking things though. They'll mimic a snake striking at you if you touch them.
I find moths more beautiful and interesting than butterflies.
Have you seen the moth that resembles a hummingbird? Fantastic.
Have you seen the moth that resembles a hummingbird? Fantastic.
8 inch wingspan? Centimetres I think. Most sites are quoting 60-85mm which is about right according to the few I’ve seen. We get them here on our chalkland as it favours Rosebay Willowherb, but it’s still a thrill to find one in the garden, I think they’re one of the most beautiful moths. Plant lots of Fucshias if you want to attract them.
The Convolvulus Hawk moth is palm sized. I remember one flying into the pub I was in one night and the barmaid running out the backdoor screaming about bats. They’re big.
The Convolvulus Hawk moth is palm sized. I remember one flying into the pub I was in one night and the barmaid running out the backdoor screaming about bats. They’re big.
Cecropia and Polyphemus are the two big Saturnidae moths that we see in any abundance here.
Some years, it seems that the majority of larvae (caterpillars) are parasitized by wasps (Hymenoptera) or flies (Diptera).
Thus the pupating larvae ares incapable of eclosing as adult moths.
Some years, it seems that the majority of larvae (caterpillars) are parasitized by wasps (Hymenoptera) or flies (Diptera).
Thus the pupating larvae ares incapable of eclosing as adult moths.
Your probably right, typically I can’t find the link I quoted from. Still impressive.
They really are aren’t they? I’m always thrilled when I see one. The Hummingbird Hawk moth is another fascinating member of the family. Not my footage, I’m always too busy being amazed to go and get a camera.
Nice to see that, I found the one here on the floor so put it in a tree out of the way, gone the next day. Would have been good to see it on the wing
Or in the beak of a Thrush, hopefully after it had done its thing.
I was watching a Blackbird today trying to carry way to much in its beak and keep dropping the odd beetle or lose a worm. It didn’t give up until it had its wriggling load secure to go and feed the greedy chicks.
No idea they existed much less ever seen one. Very cool video
As the camera pans around and the angle was right I kept thinking.....how is that not a bird? Lol
I love the Hawk Moths but rarely see them which is strange because a few of them are quite common and they're on the large size.
Here's my own Hummingbird Hawk Moth - not easy to photograph 'cos they don't stay still. We get a few every year.
Here's my own Hummingbird Hawk Moth - not easy to photograph 'cos they don't stay still. We get a few every year.
The big Saturnidae have a flip-flop, zig-zag flight that reminds me of bat flight.
They can accelerate and they are very fast when frightened.
We have a little one that attends the lilacs when they are freshly opened, in broad daylight.
Pigmented edges but otherwise transparent wings.
Any industrial buildings with security yard lights near you?
Go near sunrise and look at the walls near the lights.
Common roosting spots.
They can accelerate and they are very fast when frightened.
We have a little one that attends the lilacs when they are freshly opened, in broad daylight.
Pigmented edges but otherwise transparent wings.
Any industrial buildings with security yard lights near you?
Go near sunrise and look at the walls near the lights.
Common roosting spots.
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