Small Elephant Hawk-moth

Deilephila porcellus

This record describes Deilephila porcellus (species). Recorded family: Sphingidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.

Identification and Appearance

Small Elephant Hawk-moth - Deilephila porcellus

Wingspan 40 to 45 mm. Slightly smaller but even more brightly-coloured than its cousin the Elephant Hawk-moth ( D. elpenor ). It prefers chalky districts and dry grassy localities but is found in a range of habitats. The larvae, which are similar to those of D. elpenor , feed mostly on Bedstraw. Locally distributed but occurs widely in Britain. In a recent survey to determine the status of all macro moths in Britain this species was classified as local.

Classification

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Sphingidae
Genus: Deilephila

Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.

Habitat and Range

Habitat

It prefers chalky districts and dry grassy localities but is found in a range of habitats.

Seasonal Activity

May to July.

Diet and Behavior

Life History

The larvae, which are similar to those of

Additional species information

Recorded status

Locally distributed but occurs widely in Britain. In a recent survey to determine the status of all macro moths in Britain this species was classified as local.

About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group

Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Deilephila porcellus. Species-specific details appear above.

Group overview

Lepidoptera includes approximately 180,000 described species of butterflies and moths. Moths outnumber butterflies roughly 10:1. The monarch butterfly's eastern population has declined by more than 80% since the mid-1990s, and the western population by over 95% since the 1980s. The IUCN lists the migratory monarch as Vulnerable.

Ecological role of the group

Butterflies and moths are essential indicators of ecosystem health. As caterpillars, they are a primary food source for birds - a single nest of blue tit chicks requires ~10,000 caterpillars. Adult moths pollinate many night-blooming plants.

Economic and practical significance of the group

Lepidoptera are critical pollinators. In Europe, grassland butterfly species have declined by almost 50% since the early 1990s. In the UK, three-quarters of butterflies are in decline. In the U.S., five butterfly species have gone extinct since 1950, with 29 listed as endangered.

Recorded sources for this group: IUCN Red List, Xerces Society, USFWS, PNAS, WWF. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.

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