Small Elephant Hawk-moth (Deilephila porcellus) | Species | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Taken at Abingdon, Oxon., on June 14th 2020. (© David Hastings) (1/160th sec at f13) DescriptionFamily: Sphingidae (ABH : 69.017) Wing span: 42 - 50mm The Small Elephant Hawk-moth is the only small pink and yellowish-brown hawk moth found in the British Isles. It is widely distributed but local in England and Wales. In Scotland it is mainly in the south, the central belt, Perthshire, and the north-east. Mainly coastal in Ireland. Generally found in open habitats with a short grassy sward, including unimproved chalk and limestone grassland, commons, golf courses, heathland and damp grassland. It over-winters as a pupa. Adults are on the wing from May to July in one generation. Larvae feed on bedstraws, particularly Lady's Bedstraw. Rosebay Willowherb and Purple Loosestrife may also be used. Flies at dusk and visits flowers like Viper's-bugloss, campions, Honeysuckle and Red Valerian. It comes to light. Earliest UK sighting: 14th June ; Latest UK sighting: 20th July Sightings
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