Adur Hawk-moths

3 September 2021

9 August 2019
A large 10 cm long yellow caterpillar of the Death's Head Hawk-moth,  Acherontia atropos, was discovered in a north Lancing garden. The moth is the largest moth to appear in Britain, sporting a wingspan of up to 12 or 13 cm, a striking species, though it is not native. Immigrants arrive from southern Europe, usually several in each year, during the late summer and autumn.
 

5 November 2018
An immigrant  Hummingbird Hawk-moth, Macroglossum stellatarum, visited a purple Salvia flower in a Shoreham town back yard.

12 August 2018

 
25 September 2015
 

Caterpillar of a Lime Hawk-moth Photograph by Lorraine Courant	Caterpillar of the Elephant Hawk-moth Photograph by Trev Smith

Cats brought in two large caterpillars, one reported by Lorraine Courant as green with white dots and bluish horn (and a brown hind end) was most likely the larva of a Lime Hawk-moth, Mimas tiliae, and the  other one reported by Trev Smith was recognisable as the larva of the Elephant Hawk-moth, Deilephila elpenor.
Adur Moths

31 July 2015

Elephant Hawk-moth

15 September 2012 A large green caterpillar of the species Eyed Hawk-moth, Smerinthus ocellata, was brought in by a domestic cat in Lancing. The warts or bumps on the skin are important for identification from similar species like the Convolvulus Hawk-moth, Agrius convolvuli.   Report and Photograph by Pete Elliott Adur Moths

Late April 2007 The Convolvulus Hawk-moth, Agrius convolvuli, hatched out into the adult female imago. The caterpillar was discovered by Paul Graysmark on 29 October 2006 and it had buried into the soft earth on 30 October 2006 to metamorphises into the pupae. It was kept in a controlled environment by Richard Poxon who recorded its emergence.  Caterpillar Report

29 October 2006
 

Paul Graysmark rescued a caterpillar of the immigrant Convolvulus Hawk-moth, Agrius convolvuli, from being squashed as it slowly crawled across Corbyn Crescent, Shoreham (TQ 224 052). This specimen was the green variant (this is not illustrated in the books). The caterpillars feed on Common Bindweed, but they cannot survive a British winter. The horn is at the hind end. The dark red spots differentiate it from the Privet Hawk-moth caterpillar. Separation from the Poplar Moth caterpillar was more difficult. The absence of the Poplar's food plant was the first clue.

The caterpillar measured approximately 85 mm. The controlled environment consists of a container of loose dry earth in which the caterpillar will bury into to a depth of about 15 cm to metamorphosise into a pupae. The temperature will be controlled above 4° C so that the moth will hatch in spring when the new Bindweed growths will appear.

So imminent was the transformation that in less than 30 minutes after the caterpillar was placed into the container, it had buried into the soft earth on 30 October 2006.
 
 

Eggs, Larvae and Pupae of Butterflies and Moths
U.K. Lepidopterists Study Group Forum
Life Cycle Photographs: Egg to Pupa

The distinctive caterpillar of the Elephant Hawk-moth, Deilephila elpenor, was discovered in the middle of Nicolson Drive in residential Shoreham (an area with large gardens). As it was imminent danger of being squashed it was removed to a garden. The caterpillar was not measured, but estimated to be about 70 mm in length. The larvae feed mainly on Rosebay Willowherb (Epilobium angustifolium), but also other plants as well, including Bedstraw (Galium). The caterpillar was released into my garden as there was plentiful Bedstraw.

	Hummingbird Hawk-moth	The Hummingbird Hawk-moth was just a speck in the Hawthorn tops

21 August 2006
My first Hummingbird Hawk-moth since 2 July 2006 and only my second of the year flew around the Buddleia on the Coastal Link Cyclepath just south of the Toll Bridge, Old Shoreham.

2 July 2006
It was the warmest day of the year so far as the air temperature measured 29.8 ºC  at 4:16 pm. This was the warmest temperature that I have ever recalled.
It was a surprise to see the first Hummingbird Hawk-moth of the year whirring around my uncut Garden Privet hedge before flying on. This was much earlier in the year than their normal first appearance.
 

7 August 2005 The first (1984) Hummingbird Hawk-moth, Macroglossum stellatarum, of the year landed in a Shoreham garden: it flew off rapidly when tickled. It appeared to have chosen a rockery as a roosting place.

3 September 2004
Ray Hamblett's south Lancing garden (TQ 186 044) with best view and highlight of the day of a Hummingbird Hawk-moth visiting the purple Buddleia in the same back garden.
 

18 June 2006 The dead flowerhead twitched and moved, and it turned out to be a large moth, the Eyed Hawk-moth, Smerinthus ocellata, discovered in a Southwick garden. Report by Sharon Penfold on flickr British Insects & Other Arthropods & British Wildlife Gardens

14 May 2006
 

An attractive Eyed Hawk-moth, Smerinthus ocellata, was discovered on a Daffodil in my garden in Mill Hill Gardens, which was at one time part of Mill Hill.