Friday 3 July 2015

A just emerged Elephant Hawkmoth

In the early morning, we found this Elephant Hawkmoth, Deilephila elpenor, in the garden, on the base of the iron leg of a chimenea. It took us a bit to realise that it was fresh, just emerged from its pupal skin, wings still floppy. We moved it to a cat-safe location higher up on bushes, where she positioned herself again facing up, wings folded over her back as they filled up.
 Elephant Hawkmoth caterpillars feed on Rosebay Willowherb, Bedstraws and Fuschias. There is a fuschia overhanging our garden and many cleavers. It was nice to realise that this moth's amazing caterpillar, which gives its common name to the moth, grew somewhere in the garden, and pupated nearby on the soil.
 When I came back from work, in the evening, she was still hanging there, her wings hardened and opened (below). Hopefully she'll fly away tonight.

1 comment:

Birdy Official said...

Nice sharing man! By the way mustard and pink color combination is my favorite.