(Deilephila elpenor)

The Elephant hawk-moth (Deilephila elpenor) is found throughout the United Kingdom and can be seen from May to July . They are particularly active at dusk.

Large in size, Elephant hawk-moths  can vary  between 5 cm to 7 cm in size and have an olive green body with purplish pink markings. They are distinctive and easily identifiable.

Their caterpillars can be seen from July to September (when they pupate and overwinter as chrysalis, hidden in the soil and vegetation) and have trunk like snouts from which they derive their name. The caterpillars are greyish-green  or brown in colour

You can see a photograph of an Elephant hawk-moth to the left. It was taken on Bradgers Hill during our 2016 Creatures of the Night Bat & Moth Event.

If your see one, take a photo and submit it to us for use on this website. We’d love to see your submission.