Hawk Moth

[charlie]

Thought it was a bird when it got into my mist house I am assuming its ID to be a Privet Hawk moth and hoping that for once scientists have actually named it sensible and its caterpillars will eat privet (which is fine) and leave the rest of the garden to be eaten by something else!

privet hawk moth by charliepridham, on Flickr

[Chad]

Wonderful things, and their caterpillars are exciting too.

I would be proud to have them on any of its host plants; Wild and garden Privet (Ligustrum), Lilac (Syringa) and young Ash saplings (Fraxinus), Guelder-rose, Holly, Honeysuckle, Snowberry, Vibernum tinus, Forsythia and Spirea.

I've seldom seen a caterpillar, and when I have they were singletons, so not stripping a plant of leaves.

Chad

[charlie]

Odd isn't it - its normally the caterpillars I see! Usually on the ground heading off to pupate I guess . All the Hawk Moths are spectacular but I don't often get to see them