Regional Species


Small Elephant Hawk-moth / Elephant Hawk-moth
Deilophila porcellus / Deilophila elpenor

 Elephant Hawk-moth
Photograph by Janet Graham

 

About the Elephant Hawk-moths

Two related species occur in North Wales - the moth on the right is an Elephant Hawk-moth whilst the one on the left is a Small Elephant Hawk-moth. Both are common here although the Small Elephant Hawk-moth is probably the less common of the two. The vernacular name arises from the shape of the caterpillars which have extended, proboscis-like, head ends.