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Poplar Hawk-moth - Laothoe populi
Wingspan 65-90 mm. Probably the commonest of our hawk-moths, it has a strange attitude when at rest, with the hindwings held forward of the forewings and the abdomen curved upwards at the rear. If disturbed it can flash the hindwings, which have a contrasting rufous patch, normally hidden. There is an uncommon buff-coloured form which is more frequent in females.
Parkland, gardens, fens, woodland, heathland and moorland.
The adults are on the wing from May to July, when it is a frequent visitor to light.
The green larvae feed on Poplar, Aspen and Willow. The larva's spike is plae greeny-yellow, sometimes with a red tinge at the base.
Distributed commonly throughout most of Britain. In a recent survey to determine the status of all macro moths in Britain this species was classified as common.
Quite common in Leicestershire and Rutland. L&R Moth Group status = A (common and resident)
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Species profile
- Common names
- Poplar Hawk-moth
- Species group:
- Moths
- Kingdom:
- Animalia
- Order:
- Lepidoptera
- Family:
- Sphingidae
- Records on NatureSpot:
- 658
- First record:
- 04/06/1950 (Wesley, Isaac)
- Last record:
- 15/09/2023 (Riggall, Jack)
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