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Tony James

Tony James club

Posted: 30 Mar 2014

Taken: 30 Mar 2014

1 favorite     2 comments    232 visits

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Moths Moths

Keywords

UK •
Sphingidae •
moth •
Elephant •
Sphinx •
Hawk •
Macroglossinae •
Deilephila •
elpenor •

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1991 Deilephila elpenor (Elephant Hawkmoth)

1991 Deilephila elpenor (Elephant Hawkmoth)
Sphingidae, Macroglossinae Wingspan: 74mm.

This is one of the commonest UK Hawkmoths, and the above specimen had just emerged from the pupa, so it's colours were fresh and pristine. The colours mimic the flowers of the Rosebay Willowherb (Chamerion angustifolium), a large wild plant which grows in swathes on wild or disused ground. It is also one of the food plants for the caterpillars.

Ronald Stachowiak has particularly liked this photo

Comments
 Wimm/Vic
Wimm/Vic
A stunning Hawkmoth, Tony.
10 years ago.
Tony James club has replied to Wimm/Vic
Hi Jen, yes it is a favourite moth in the UK. It is also one of the commonest Hawk-moths. At one event, we had 30 come to our light trap in a couple of hours recording. That was a good night moth-wise, anyway, but it was nice to see so many. It isn't the highest number of a Hawkmoth, however, as Frank, our Mothing friend, had over 100 of the following species at one of our trapping events.
10 years ago.

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