Home / Hawk Moths (Sphingidae) / Elephant Hawk-Moth (Deilephila elpenor)

Elephant Hawk-Moth (Deilephila elpenor)

Elephant hawk moth of the Sphingidae family stands out from most other species because of its large size and pinkish-olive coloration. The moth has a close resemblance to an elephant’s trunk in its caterpillar stage, resulting in its name.

Elephant Hawk-Moth

images.saymedia-content.com

Scientific Classification


  • Family: Sphingidae
  • Genus: Deilephila
  • Scientific Name: Deilephila elpenor

Description and Identification

Caterpillar

When young, the larvae have a yellowish-white or green body. Upon maturation, they become brownish-gray with black dots. They even have a horn or a backward-curving spine on the last abdominal segment, as well as two black eyespots close to their head. Color variations exist, and in certain elephant hawk moth species, the matured larva may appear green. Their overall height is 7.62 cm (3 inches), while their weight ranges from 0.14 – 0.26 pounds.

Elephant Hawk Moth Larvae

pinterest.com

Elephant Hawk Moth Caterpillar

britishwildlife.wikia.com

Pupa

The transition from the larval to the pupal stage takes about 27 days on average. The pupae have a brown body, also marked with dark brown speckles. The division between each of the segments appears black. The average length of the pupa is 4 to 4.5cm.

Elephant Hawk Moth Chrysalis

googleusercontent.com

Elephant Hawk Moth Pupa

norfolkwildlifetrust.org.uk

Adult Moth

Sexual Dimorphism: Present but not prominent

Color and Appearance

Forewings: When opened, the forewings appear olive-brown bordered in pink. When closed, the color is the same, olive background with a combination of pink lines.

Hindwings: When opened, a part of the hindwings is black, turning pink towards the center, bordered with white fringes. When closed, the color and pattern remain unchanged.

One of the most striking features is the two pink lines running down its abdomen. Its head, body, and thorax are also olive-green with pink markings all over.

Average Wingspan: 4.5 – 6 cm

Flight Pattern: Swift and erratic

Season: May-August

Deilephila elpenor

gallery-ecopsychology.org

Large Elephant Hawk Moth

norfolkwildlifetrust.org.uk

Eggs

The whitish-green eggs have a glossy texture and hatch in about 10 days from laying.

Elephant Hawk Moth Eggs

lh3.googleusercontent.com

Quick Facts

Other NamesLarge elephant hawk moth
DistributionMostly occurring in Central Europe
HabitatGrasslands, sand dunes, hedgerows, heathlands, woodlands, countrysides, and gardens
PredatorsSpider species, particularly the brown huntsman 
Lifespan of AdultsAbout 5 weeks
Host PlantsHimalayan balsam, rosebay willowherb, fuchsia, bedstraw, dahlia, lavender
Adult DietNectar of flowers that produce nectar or remain active at night

Did You Know

  • The larva and even the adult moths appear big and fierce, yet they do not bite and are not poisonous to humans and pets.
  • The elephant hawk-moth is not to be confused with the small elephant hawk moth, both belonging to the same family, also bearing a close resemblance though with prominent visible differences. The latter is smaller lacking the thick abdominal stripes present in the former.
Elephant Hawk Moth Photo

youngfermanaghnaturalist.com

Elephant Hawk Moth Image

woodlandtrust.org.uk

Pictures of Elephant Hawk Moth

viridis.net

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *