Elephant Hawk-moth

Smokey Bear

Was sitting looking at TV tonight and got buzzed by this monster of a moth,after alot of shrieks from wife caught it and freed him,Have searched web and discovered its name an Elephant hawk moth most beautiful moth I have seen in Ireland.Never set eyes on one before.
http://ukmoths.org.uk/show.php?id=60

http://www.mothsireland.com/specieslist.htm

Learnt a lot about them by his little visit and searching web,just thought I would share it with you.



Smokey Bear.

Mothman

Well done Smokey Bear for releasing it! I realise that can be taken as patronising, but it is not meant that way. You wouldn't be here telling us about it if you did otherwise.

Foodplants are Fushia and Rosebay Wiilowherb and it is the caterpillar that is seen more often. The caterpilalr is the reason for name, it being somewhat similar in appearance to elephant's trunk.

Birdnuts

Yeah - Defiantly irelands cooliest moth. Theres a another giant species that lives on heather that would always turn up at my house when I lived near Blanket bog in Mayo. Unfortunatly I've gone brain-dead with the heat and can't remember its name ATM:(

Mothman

^^^^Emperor Moth?^^^^

Birdnuts

Mothman wrote: »

^^^^Emperor Moth?^^^^

Thats the boyo!! - Thanx Angus:)

littlebug

Very cool little creature. The best I've seen was a Hummingbird Hawk Moth a couple of years ago. It was a real :eek: moment.

Jim Martin

A video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3m6zJTWbReM

littlebug wrote: »

Very cool little creature. The best I've seen was a Hummingbird Hawk Moth a couple of years ago. It was a real :eek: moment.

Jim Martin

And a good phot of one (hummingbird hawkmoth):

http://www.neatorama.com/2006/08/25/hummingbird-hawkmoth/

oflynno

i saw an elephant hawk moth in west cork today.holy crap,what an amazing yoke.and of course the battery was low in my camera and i couldnt get a pic. the colours were gorgeous pink and green with really bright thingys-on-its head(dont know what they are called)

Buddinplant

Have come across the Elephant moth caterpillar before, actually spent a whole day watching the things ( was meant to working at clearing a weed infested bank in a housing estate :rolleyes:) would love to see the Adult Moth some day. the wing span alone would have another day out of me

Scotty #

I've come across the caterpillar several times in the garden but never the adult

Any tips for getting to see the adult?

Mothman

I've seen as many as 30 adults in a light trap, but only ever seen one adult other wise.
keep an eye on honeysuckle after it gets dark. They will nectar at other tubular flowering plants as well.

thebishop

One from a few years ago.

banjopaul

Saw one of these fellas for the first time ever tonight, and managed to get a picture:

http://omg.wthax.org/DSC00416_1.jpg

It was hanging around some honey suckle, but seemed a little dazed.

Gulliver

Here's a monster that arrived one night:


I put a cent coin in for scale after I trapped him.

and


He makes his getaway after release.

Not as good looking as that Elephant Hawk moth though.

EDIT: Forgot to mention - click the images for full size version!

Mothman

Gulliver wrote: »

Here's a monster that arrived one night:

Not as good looking as that Elephant Hawk moth though.

But much much bigger than the Elephant Hawk-moth.
This is a Convolvulus Hawk-moth.

Was this recent?

Gulliver

Mothman wrote: »

But much much bigger than the Elephant Hawk-moth.
This is a Convolvulus Hawk-moth.

Was this recent?

Unfortunately not, it was 12-09-2008. He was in the grass under the clothesline during the evening. My wife thought it was a mouse, it was so big. He was very lethargic so we took him inside in case the cat would get him. We released him that night and he flew away albeit very slowly (and noisily!).

This caterpillar was about on 31-08-2010 though.

Mothman

Gulliver wrote: »

This caterpillar was about on 31-08-2010 though.

Nicely bringing the thread back on topic

Half-cocked

Just back from Downpatrick. We caught 4 Elephant Hawkmoths last night, our first ones ever!:D Pics to follow later.

Half-cocked

Here they are:

tired insomniac

Jim Martin wrote: »

And a good phot of one (hummingbird hawkmoth):

http://www.neatorama.com/2006/08/25/hummingbird-hawkmoth/

that looks identical to a thing that missed my head and hit the sliding door one night. it was about 2 inches from left to right. missus ran! made some wierd noise too

minterno

I got a fleeting glimpse of a hummingbird hawkmoth yesterday morning and was delighted to see one,im from east cork and we had 3 of them in our garden every morning and late evenings about 4 years ago and this is the first time i have seen them since,im waiting with the camcorder as we speak but no sign yet,stunning creature

artieanna

Seeing a humming bird hawk moth for me was something I will never ever forget, wonderful..

Emperor moths are beautiful one flew in here about a month ago.

I've never seen elephant hawk moths here... well Yet never say never!

marlin vs

I got pictures of this fella today.

oflynno

I planted honeysuckle outside as I heard that the hawkmoths love it.I have been checking every evening for a sign of one, none yet, but hopefully with the warm weather there will be a few around

pamweld

Just seen one of these guys for the first time ever today, gorgeous looking moth! Was hanging on my clothes that were on the line so I got the camera out and was snap happy!

paddyp

Just found an elphant hawk caterpillar thought it was some kind of amphibian first as it was next to the mill race at a friends house and he was so liveley when I went to pick it up. Enormous!