David Element
Wildlife Photography and Digital Video Images
_____________________________________________________________Moths
70 – Elephant Hawk Moths
ELEPHANT
HAWK MOTH Deilephila elpenor
ELEPHANT HAWK MOTH Deilephila
elpenor
·
The beautiful pink and olive Elephant Hawk Moth Deilephila
elpenor belongs
to the family Sphingidae (Macroglossinae). The Small
Elephant Hawk Moth D. porcellus,
illustrated elsewhere on this web site, is significantly smaller, and the
markings are distinctly different. The larvae of D. elpenor
are found in brown and green forms, and they are characterised by large
eyespots used to deter would-be predators and likely to cause intrigue for
human observers. They are most likely to be found feeding on Rosebay Willowherb Chamaenerion
angustifolium or Great Hairy Willowherb Epilobium hirsutum, but
cultivated Fuchsia spp. are also eaten, in addition to several other
plants. The adults feed on nectar-rich tubular flowers including Honeysuckle Lonicera periclymenum, and they may be attracted to artificial light. The
above photographs have been scanned from transparencies.
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