Elephant Hawk-moth (Deilephila elpenor)

Here is another very striking moth that you will usually only see with the aid of a moth trap. It comes readily to light but is rarely seen during the day.

This moth loves Honeysuckle and feeds on it at night although the larvae prefers members of the Willowherb or Bedstraw families of flowers. The larvae over winters as a pupa.

This is widespread species and quite common during May to July. In Dorset we sometimes see a second brood later in the year with these insects turning up in September and even October..

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