Poplar Hawk-moth
| Poplar Hawk-moth | ||||||||||||||
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| Laothoe populi Linnaeus, 1758 |
The Poplar Hawk-moth (Laothoe populi) is a moth of the family Sphingidae. It is found throughout the Palearctic region and the Near East and is among the commonest members of the family in the region.
This is a large (wingspan 72-92 mm), rather odd-looking, species, usually light grey marked with darker grey fascia but with the greys occasionally replaced by buffish tones (this form is more frequent among females than males). Its slightly peculiar appearance is mainly due to its habit of resting with its hindwings held further forward than (but still half hidden by) the forewings (The species lacks a frenulum joining the wings together). When disturbed, the moth will suddenly reveal a bright orange patch on the hindwing as a distraction display. One or two broods are produced each year and adults can be seen from May to September. The adults do not feed. The species flies at night and is strongly attracted to light.
The larva is green or blueish green with yellow streaks and red spots along the side and the horn at the hind end typical of the family. It feeds mainly on poplar and aspen but sometimes on sallow and other willows. It has also been recorded on apple. The species overwinters as a pupa.
Subspecies
- L. p. iberica
- L. p. populi
External Link
Poplar Hawk-moth at Markku Savela's Lepidoptera pages
References
- Chinery, Michael Collins Guide to the Insects of Britain and Western Europe 1986 (Reprinted 1991)
- Skinner, Bernard Colour Identification Guide to Moths of the British Isles 1984