Sunday, 23 August 2009

Enormous Moth

Poplar hawk-moth - Laothoe populiThis evening we saw a huge moth on the window. It is probably the biggest moth that I have ever seen in the UK with a wingspan of almost 3 inches (>7cms).

It was a Poplar Hawk-moth. It is easily identified because its hind-wings are held forward of the forewings, which can be seen in this photo. Also just visible is the red patch on its hindwing, which is usually hidden.
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16 comments:

  1. Jodie Robson4 September 2009 at 21:08

    I'm very envious about this photo - in North Northumberland large moths (indeed, most moths nowadays) are in short supply.

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  2. Jenny4 September 2009 at 21:22

    This is the first time I have seen a hawk moth in many years of wildlife watching, so I do wonder how many there are around these days. It would be interesting to get a moth trap to monitor them more accurately instead of just relying on them landing on the window.

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  3. russtrina7 June 2011 at 03:39

    One of these just flew into my office at Seaton Delaval, Northumberland. Saw it out of the corner of my eye and thought it was a sparrow ! Magnificent creature. Took a few pics when it settled.

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  4. Anonymous20 July 2011 at 20:23

    i was trimming the trees just behind my garden in Bridgend, South Wales, (UK) when one of these moths landed on my shoulder i nearly had a heart attack i thought it was a bird or a bat, are they rare or needed in wildlife centres as its living in my shed?

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  5. Anonymous4 July 2012 at 15:23

    Just found one of these in our garden in The Clays Cornwall, didn't know what it was until i found this site, thanks, and it's huge!

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  6. Anonymous18 July 2012 at 23:43

    i just found one in my spare room i thaught it was a bat!! its was very slow tho so i hope it wasnt on its way out... i touched it and it just started walking...

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  7. Phil Gosling23 July 2012 at 00:20

    Found two of these in my garden waste bin today. We live in Marple, chesire. I gently moved them to a nearby bush. Took loads of photos, never seen anything them. Outstandingly beautiful.

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  8. Anonymous26 August 2012 at 19:51

    i have caught 1 of these moths in my house and it has since lay about 50 eggs what should i do with it!!!

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  9. Jenny26 August 2012 at 20:45

    Most moths are harmless (apart from clothes moths) so just put it outside. It is probably a good idea to remove the eggs too!

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  10. Unknown22 May 2013 at 11:50

    My friend found one of these in a house in Leyton, London yesterday! He was terrified - I think they are lovely.

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  11. Unknown17 July 2013 at 05:59

    i have one of these in my house atm it bloody scared me i thought it was a hornet

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  12. fiona3 August 2013 at 02:04

    Just found one of these moths in my kitchen, the size of scared me too, it was huge, the biggest moth I'd seen previous was one of those pink and green ones, had to use a flower vase to trap this monster. Found in lowestoft.

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  13. Anonymous22 August 2013 at 18:07

    We have just spotted a Hawk moth on our gates, it's impressively large and very well camouflaged. We thought it was a leaf.

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  14. Anonymous8 July 2017 at 15:29

    I have just taken a foto or the hawk moth perched on the window sill, never seen the like before

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  15. Anonymous8 July 2017 at 15:31

    just spotted a hawk moth, never seen the like, scarey, Glenavy NI

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  16. Ruth Storer12 July 2017 at 10:25

    I saved a large Hawk Moth at the Resource centre in Coalville Leicestershire Today
    He was a Beuty but he only had half an antenna on his left side but a full one on the right
    I moved him to safety.
    It's been a very long time since I saw such a beautiful Moth

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