Are elephant hawk moths rare in UK?

The UK has several native species of hawk-moth, but the elephant hawk-moth (Deilephila elpenor) is one of our most common and widespread, found in gardens, woodland edges and open countryside.

Are hawk-moths rare in the UK?

Common and widespread across the UK, with its range increasing in the north. Found in almost all habitats, including woodlands, hedgerows and gardens.

Where is the elephant hawk-moth found?

Elephant hawk moths primarily prefer Rosebay Willowherbs, and can be found in a wide variety of habitats where this kind of vegetation is present including waste ground and clearings, hedgerows, rough grassland, woodland, heathland, sand dunes, and even in manmade gardens especially those that have bright, colorful …

How do you attract hawk-moths UK?

It is very strongly attracted to flowers that provide a plentiful supply of nectar, such as red valerian, honeysuckle, jasmine, Buddleia, lilac, Escallonia, petunia and phlox. It hovers in front of a flower, probes it repeatedly for nectar and then darts to the next flower.

How common are elephant hawk moths?

The elephant hawk moth is particularly common in Great Britain, but it occurs throughout the palearctic region, including all of Europe and Asia as far east as Japan.

How do you attract elephant hawk moths?

Make your garden moth friendly by planting a good range of nectar plants to flower throughout the year. This will attract moths and butterflies into your garden to feed. Planting fuchsias as a foodplant for the caterpillars may encourage breeding.

What should I do if I find an elephant hawk moth caterpillar?

Keep larger caterpillars, such as elephant hawk-moths, in a large ice-cream tub or similar, while smaller ones can make do with a yoghurt pot or margarine tub. There’s no need to add air holes, but lift the lid every other day to keep the air fresh, and replace the leaves every two days.

Can hawk-moths sting?

While it’s true that very colorful butterflies and moths often signal high toxicity, elephant hawk moths are entirely harmless — they don’t sting (as the caterpillars of some moths do) and won’t poison your dog or neighborhood birds.