Elephant Hawk-Moth

Have you ever been hit by a moth, that’s the size of an old-ten-bob-note, if not, trust me it feels like someone threw a fifty-pence piece, and hit you with it, i had just walked indoors, about ten o’clock after a hard evening digging ! and the patio doors were open as it was still hot when this mad moth had a go at me, all thoughts of my precious scrap went out of the window, as i tried not to retaliate, i got my food together and was trying to ignore him when he decided to come into the kitchen, that was it, he threw down the gauntlet, he had to go, lights off, torch on (- well the one on the probe -) chasing around from room to room closing doors behind me, well after ten minutes i gave up if he wants to say he won, huh, so be it, this morning he was still sitting on the blind, in the kitchen mocking me, so instead i took some photos, for his criminal record…

Once i get my other photos sorted, i will upload more, as for my scrap-well i think the moth was an impressive find, a handsome dude at that…

Just to fill you in the elephant hawk-moth is a gold-and-pink moth that can be seen at dusk in gardens, parks, woods and grassy habitats. The caterpillars look like an elephant’s trunks and have eyespots to scare off predators, and that’s how they got their name, with an impressive wingspan of 4.5-6.0cm, although Common, i can not say that i have seen them before, although they are active between May to August, I’m now going to look out for the caterpillars, as they are seen from July to September with a very characteristic, greyish-green or brown colour, with two enormous, black eyespots towards the head, when scared or disturbed, they swell up their bodies to show these spots off & hopefully scare off predators, who look to eat them, so I’m now going to find out where the buggers are eating because they feed on willowherbs, fuchsia and bedstraw, whilst my new security guard feeds on nectar., apparently these caterpillars overwinter as chrysalides, hidden among low vegetation, grass tufts or in the soil…