Elephant Hawkmoth

Small Elephant Hawkmoth

Photograph of a Small Elephant Hawkmoth on rock near water. This moth has a large pink body with yellow tipped wings.

Small Elephant Hawkmoth

Small Elephant Hawkmoth

Photograph of a Small Elephant Hawkmoth on rock near water. This moth has a large pink body with yellow tipped wings.

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Latin: Deilephila elpenor

Irish: Conach eilifinte

The Elephant Hawkmoth is another large relatively local resident that, when seen, cannot be mistaken for anything else because of its brilliant pinkish colouration. Seeing the beauty of this moth, which shows such startling brilliance of colour, makes one wonder what else is living locally and as yet not recorded!

The caterpillar feeds on a number of plants including willowherb species and bedstraw. Winter is spent in chrysalis form.