Hello, from Steve Garten and welcome to my weird and wonderful world of moths.
I’m amateur Lepidopterist, I trap and record moth species on my six acre wildlife meadow at Tibenham Norfolk, UK.
The list of moths listed in this Macro-moths blog and the Micro Moths blog are the species I have recorded since 2015.
Eyed Hawk-moth - - Smerinthus ocellata.
The moth is from the family of Sphingidae -- subfamily --- Smerinthinae.
This moth has a subdued, camouflaged appearance at rest, but when disturbed, lashes the hind wings, which shows deep blue and black 'eyes' on a pinkish background.
It Is a large macro moth, with a wingspan of 70 to 80 mm.
There is one generation, flying in May to July.
The moth's habitat is mainly gardens, hedgerows, grassland, heathland, moorland and woodland.
The species overwinters as a pupa underground, below or near the larval foodplant.
The larva appears from June to September, sometimes later.
The larva grows up to 75 mm long and has a blue 'horn' at one end which distinguishes them from the otherwise similar larva of the poplar hawk-moth.
Both larvae of Eyed & Lime hawk-moth have a blue tail, but warts on Lime Hawk-moth's anal flap are diagnostic.
The moth is classified nationally as a Common species of the UK.