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Home , Black arches, Common footman, Coxcomb prominent, Deilephila elpenor, Hemaris tityus, Laelia coenosa

Hawk-, Family and forewings browner. Wings normally held roof-wise along the body when at rest. Distinctive medium to large moths. Power• green, striped with brown. ful fliers, generally with rather narrow, Habitat More sedentary than above pointed forewings. Most larvae are large, , living mainly in rough flowery striped, and have a 'horn' at the tail end. places where occurs. Status and distributfon Local in S Convolvulus Hawk- Britain, widespread on the Continent. Agrilfs c()llu()lulfli Season 6-7. A strikingly large moth; wingspan up to 12cm. Forewings greyish, marbled; hind• Poplar Hawk-moth wings browner. The abdomen is striped ()th()c l)()fJlfli with red, white and black. The proboscis A medium-sized hawk-moth; wingspan up may be up to 13cm long! to 90mm. Wings greyish to pinkish-brown, Habitat A migrant into N Europe from broadly banded, with a single white mark in the Mediterranean area, which may occur the centre of the forewings. Hindwings wherever there are flowers, especially Petu• orange-red at base, usually concealed, and nia and Nicotiana. Breeds on Convolvulus, but show in front of forewings at rest. Larvae only rarely does so in N Europe. green with yellow stripes. Status and distribution Very variable in Habitat A variety of habitats, associated numbers, regularly reaching S England, but with Sallow, Poplar and Aspen. not necessarily going further. Status and distribution Widely distrib• Season 6-9. uted and moderately common throughout the region. Death's Head Hawk-Moth Season 5-9. Achcrontia atrofJos Similar species An extraordinary , unlike anything Hawk-moth Hyloicus pinostri is also else. Wingspan up to 13cm, and body very greyish-brown, but lacks the orange on the broad. Wings beautifully marbled brown, underwings. Occurs in association with yellow and black when fresh; skull-like pine, and often rests on trunks by day. ('death's head') pattern on the thorax, and Widespread but local. abdomen boldly striped. Proboscis rela• tively short, and this is one of the few hawk• lime Hawk-moth moths that settles to feed. Larva large, tiliae variable in colour, green or yellow, with Wingspan in the range 70-80mm. Fore• bold diagonal stripes. wings beautifully marbled, with a ground Habitat Very mobile, occurring almost colour varying from pink to green or anywhere. brown. Adults do not feed. Larvae green Status and distribution A migrant from with fine yellow stripes. S Europe, arriving in small, but variable, Habitat In light woodland, parks and numbers. gardens, associated with limes, and a Season 6-10. variety of other ; not an especially mobile species. Privet Hawk-moth Status and distribution Southern and ligustri local in the UK; more widespread on the Resembles Convolvulus Hawk, but smaller, Continent. with hindwings banded pink and brown, Season 5-7.

170 Eyed Hawk-moth Status and distribution Widespread, ocellata occurring virtually throughout, but highly Wingspan a0--9Smm. Forewings brownish, variable in numbers. marbled, rather like Poplar, but the hind• Season 6-10 (though odd individuals may wings are quite different - orange-red, with occur at almost any time). a large 'peacock eye' on each, which may be flashed if the insect is threatened. Larva Large Elephant Hawk-moth green with yellow stripes. elpenor Habitat Woodland, parks and gardens, An attractive and distinctive species, with a associated with and . wingspan of 60--70mm. Forewings striped Status and distribution Widespread in brown and pink, hindwings half pink, half England and , rare further north. brown. Larvae are impressive, large, grey• Generally distributed on the Continent. ish, with a snout like an elephant's trunk, Season S-9. and large 'eye-spots'. Habitat Rough grassland, waste ground Narrow-bordered Hawk-moth and gardens. Larvae feed on willowherbs, tityus bedstraws, and sometimes Clarkia or . A bumble bee-like insect, with a wingspan Status and distribution Widespread of about 4Smm. Wings clear, except for and moderately common. •• narrow brownish border. Flies by day, and Season S-7. visits flowers of Bugle, , and Similar species others. Small Elephant Hawk-moth D. porce/• Habitat Woodland clearings, damp acid Ius has a wingspan of 4S-SSmm, and is gen• pastures, where Oevil's Bit Scabious grows. erally yellower in appearance; hindwing Status and distribution Widespread yellow edged with pink: Larva smaller, throughout, but not common. browner, lacking horn at tail end; feeds Season S-{,. mainly on bedstraws. Widespread but Similar species local. Broad-bordered Bee Hawk-moth H. fuciformis is slightly larger, and has broader Spurge Hawk-moth brown margins to the wings. Widespread euphorbiae but local in woodland clearings and rides; Similar in size and shape to Large Elephant, larvae feed mainly on . but with brown and pink forewings, and pink hindwings. Hummingbird Hawk-moth Habitat Larvae feed on spurge; adults are stellatarum highly mobile and may turn up anywhere. An appropriately named and unmistakable Status and distribution A S European moth which darts from flower to flower, species which moves northwards irregu• feeding as it hovers. Wingspan S0-60mm, larly. Rare vagrant to UK. underwings yellow. Day-flying, visiting Red Season S-9. , Honeysuckle, Petunia and other Similar species -rich flowers. Bedstraw Hawk-moth H. gallii looks Habitat Entirely migrant in this area, and very similar, but has bolder brown front may occur wherever there are suitable margin to the wings, and less pink on the flowers. Often seen near the top of sunny hindwings. A mobile species, moving north• old walls. wards in some years. Very rare UK visitor.

172 LEPIDOPTERA Prominents, Family Iron Prominent Notodollta dromedarius A greyish-brown moth, with a wingspan of So called because of a tuft of hairs on the 45-50mm. There are rust-co loured hindwing which projects when the moth is patches on the forewings. As in other at rest. prominents, there is a tuft of scales on the back. The larva is more exceptional: green, Buff-tip with several narrow humps on its back. Pha/cra /J//cepha/a Habitat Lightly wooded areas, where A remarkable moth, with a well-developed and occur. and unusual camouflage pattern (see p.27). Status and distribution Widespread Wingspan 55-65mm. Wings greyish, like and reasonably common throughout. bark, tipped with yellow hairs, and Season 5-9. with a yellow thorax - the overall effect can be very like a broken Birch twig. Larvae dis• Swallow Prominent tinctive, with longitudinal yeliow, black and Phcosia trell/u/a white stripes. An attractive moth, with a wingspan of Habitat Woods, heaths and lightly treed 50-60mm. Wings longitudinally striped; sites, where Sallow, Poplar and Birch occur. dark brown towards the body, paler in the Status and distribution Widespread centre, and darker along the margins. and common throughout. Habitat Various habitats; larvae feed on Season 6-8. Aspen, poplars and willows. Similar species Status and distribution Widespread Nothing looks quite similar. and common throughout. Chocolate-tip C/ostera curtu/a has a similar Season 5--B. colouring pattern, with dark brown wing• Similar species tips and a brown head. Wooded areas, Lesser Swallow Prominent P. gnoma is widespread but mainly southern in UK. similar in pattern, but smaller, with more white on the wing, and a white triangle near Puss Moth the hind margin of the forewing. Similar uillu/a habitats and distribution. Feeds on Birch. A very attractive moth; wingspan 65• BOmm.The overall impression is of a white 'fluffy' moth; the abdomen is white, with l'ti/odoll capucilla about 10 black dots, and the wings are pale Wingspan 40--50mm. A marbled brownish greyish-white with darker lines; male anten• moth, made distinctive by the especially nae feathered. The larvae are extraordi• prominent 'hump', the scalloped margins to nary, as shown in the photograph opposite. the forewings, and the hairy crest. Habitat A variety of habitats, where wil• Habitat Woodland, hedges and scrub. lows occur - woods, fens, dunes and other Larvae feed on various broad leaved trees. sites. Status and distribution Widespread Status and distribution Widespread throughout, generally the commonest and quite common. Prominent. Season 4-7. Season 5-9. Similar species Similar species Leopard Moth pyrina (see p.152) Maple Prominent Pti/odontella cucullina is is rather similar, but wings are more dot• very similar in shape, but this species has ted, and there are 6 large dark dots on the large pale patches on the wing-tips. Similar thorax. habitats, but more local.

174 LEPIDOPTERA Pale Prominent Vapourer Moth palpina antiqua A curious-looking moth, with long projec• A fascinating moth, of which all stages may tions in front of the head. Wingspan be noticed. Males are orangey-brown, with 45-60mm, with a long body; wings greyish, a white spot on each forewing; wingspan marbled with brown and white - well cam• 35--40mm. Females are wingless and dark. ouflaged when at rest. She remains on her empty cocoon, where Habitat Open woods and scrub. a male will find her, and she lays a batch of Status and distribution Widespread large conspicuous eggs all over it (see throughout, and generally common. photo). The larvae are very distinctive, with Season 5-8. colourful tufts of hairs. Habitat All kinds of habitats, wherever Great Prominent there are trees and . anceps Status and distribution Widespread Rather similar to Pale Prominent, though and common throughout. larger (up to 65mm wingspan), generally Season 6-10. darker in colour, and lacking the prominent Similar species duckbill-like snout. The hindwings (usually Scarce Vapourer O. recens is very similar, hidden at rest) are very pale greyish. The but males have white marks at the tips of larvae are bright green, with reddish diago• the forewings. Very local, in SE Britain only; nal stripes. widespread but local on the Continent. Habitat Scrub and woodland; the larvae feed on . Pale Tussock Status and distribution Widespread Callitaera pudibunda and moderately common throughout. Wingspan 50-70mm, males smaller. The Season 5-7. wings are greyish-white, with a broad darker band; the furry front legs are held * Pine Pro cessionary Moth forwards at rest. The adults do not feed. pityocampa The larvae are attractive and distinctive, Adults are undistinguished, pale grey-brown yellow and very hairy. moths with a wingspan of 30-35mm. Lar• Habitat In woods and areas with trees vae, however, are very conspicuous, living and shrubs. Food-plants include various communally inweb 'tents' on pine branches; trees and shrubs. the tents remain visible after the larvae have Status and distribution Widespread left. They travel in a procession when seek• and generally common throughout, though ing a pupation site in spring. absent from . Habitat Wherever pine trees, of various Season 4-7. species, occur. Similar species Status and distribution Very common Dark Tussock Dicallomera fascelina is in S Europe, just reaching into central slightly darker, with more brown on the Europe. wings. Widespread, but commoner in the Season Adults 5-7; larval nests visible north. much of the year. * Reed Tussock coenosa has a Similar species beautiful (see photo); now * Processionary Moth T. proces• extinct in UK, but locally common in N sionea is very similar, but occurs on oaks. Europe.

176 LEPIDOPTERA Gold-tailor Yellow-tail Habitat Woodland. EltfJroc/is si1l1ilis Status and distribution A southern A small to medium moth; wingspan species in Britain, more widespread on the 35--45mm. Generally white in appearance, Continent. but the abdomen is tipped with a brush of Season 6-8. yellow hairs in both sexes. The larvae are distinctive, red and black with tufts of hairs. Dotted Footman Habitat Woods and hedges, occasionally l'c/osia IIIl1s«('I'da gardens. The larval food-plants are mainly Wingspan 3O-35mm. Dull yellowish• Hawthorn and Blackthorn. brown, with 5 dark dots on the forewings. Status and distribution Common in Habitat Woods and scrub; the larvae England and Wales, rare in Scotland; wide• feed on algae, and possibly lichens. spread on the Continent. Status and distribution t-Jow very rare Season 6-8. in UK. local on the Continent. Similar species Similar species Brown-tail E. chrysorrhoea is very similar, Small Dotted Footman P. obtuso is but slightly smaller, and with a brown tip to smaller, browner, with more rounded the abdomen. The larvae are similar, but wings. Rare, in E Anglia only in UK, local on duller, and live gregariously in webs on the Continent. Hawthorn and other shrubs. Generally less common, but may become abundant at times. E.·le1l1a Iltrideola Representative of a small group of distinc• tive moths. Wingspan 32-38mm. Fore• I-Y1l1all/ria 1I1ollacha wings grey, edged yellow; hindwings An attractive and distinctive moth; wing• creamy-yellow. The wings are folded back span 45-55mm. Wings white, heavily dot• along the body when at rest. ted, striped and suffused with black; males Habitat Woods, hedgerows and gardens; have feathery antennae. the larvae feed on lichens on trunks. Habitat Wooded habitats. Larvae feed Status and distribution Widespread mainly on oak, but also on other trees and generally common, rarer in N Britain. including . Season 6-8. Status and distribution In S Britain only; more widespread on the Continent. Season 7-9. Similar species * Gypsy Moth L dispar is similar in form, but lacks most of the black markings; males have a brown ground colour. Extinct in UK Common~wFootman Scarce Footman as resident, but occasional as immigrant. Widespread on the Continent. Similar species Scarce Footman E. comp/ana is almost Rosy Footman identical but the yellow stripe at the front Mil/ochris/a 1I1illiata of the forewing does not taper (see illus• A pretty little moth, with a wingspan of tration). Local, mainly southern. about 30mm. Forewings pinkish-yellow Dingy Footman E. griseola is duller and finely marked with black; hindwings almost browner in colour, and has curved front white. Larvae grey and furry, feeding on edges to the forewings. Widespread. but lichens such as Lichen on trunks. rare in the north.

178 LEPIDOPTERA