Deilephila elpenor (Linnaeus, 1758)
(Elephant Hawk-moth)

Taxonomic hierarchy:
SpeciesDeilephila elpenor (Elephant Hawk-moth)
TribeMacroglossini (a tribe of moths)
SubfamilyMACROGLOSSINAE (a subfamily of moths)
FamilySPHINGIDAE (hawk or sphinx moths, hawk-moth)
SuperfamilyBOMBYCOIDEA (silk moths, emperor etc.)
CladeMacrolepidoptera (macro-moths)
CladeObtectomera (butterflies and most moths)
CladeApoditrysia (butterflies and most moths)
InfraorderDitrysia (butterflies and most moths)
InfraorderHeteroneura (an infraorder of moths and butterflies)
SuborderGLOSSATA (a suborder of moths)
OrderLEPIDOPTERA (butterflies and moths)
Division Endopterygota (bees, beetles, flies, moths and other insects with wings developing internally)
InfraclassNeoptera (bees, beetles, flies, grasshoppers, moths and other advanced insects)
SubclassPTERYGOTA (bees, beetles, dragonflies, flies, grasshoppers, moths and other winged insects)
ClassINSECTA (true insects)
SubphylumHEXAPODA (insects and other 6-legged organisms)
PhylumARTHROPODA (arthropods)
SuperphylumECDYSOZOA (skin shedders)
CladeBilateria (bilaterally symmetrical animals)
SubkingdomEUMETAZOA (metazoans)
KingdomANIMALIA (animals)
DomainEukaryota (eukaryotes)
LifeBIOTA (living things)
Records of Deilephila elpenor (Elephant Hawk-moth) :
1: Deilephila elpenor (Elephant Hawk-moth)
9 Jun 2018 OSGR: SU01 50° 60’ N, 1° 60’ W Vice County: South Wilts (VC 8) England
at MV light
Image 1: Adult - dorsal view - natural backgroundImage 2: Adult - revving up for flight - dorsal view - natural backgroundImage 3: Adult - revving up for flight - lateral view - natural background
2: Deilephila elpenor (Elephant Hawk-moth)
25 Jul 2005 OSGR: SU56 51° 20’ N, 1° 10’ W Vice County: Berks (VC 22) England
3 small pale green hawkmoth caterpillars on Short-fruited Willow Herb in garden . Photos: Larva (various instars), cocoon, pupa, anal point, imago
Image 1: Cocoon - in compostImage 2: Cocoon - in compost (2)Image 3: Cocoon - opened to show female pupaImage 4: Cocoon - opened to show male pupaImage 5: Female adult - antennae forward - dorsal viewImage 6: Female adult - antennae forward - dorsal view - close-upImage 7: Female adult - antennae withdrawn - dorsal view - close-upImage 8: Female adult - dorsal view - close-upImage 9: Female adult - lateral view - close-up - on twigImage 10: Female adult - lateral view - close-up - on twig (2)Image 11: Larva - 10 Aug - dorsal viewImage 12: Larva - 10 Aug - dorso-lateral viewImage 13: Larva - 29 July - dorsal viewImage 14: Larva - 29 July - lateral viewImage 15: Larva - 29 July - ventral viewImage 16: Larva - 30 July - dorsal viewImage 17: Larva - 30 July - lateral viewImage 18: Male adult - dorsal view - on leafImage 19: Male adult - dorsal view - on twigImage 20: Male adult - dorsal view - on twig (2)Image 21: Male adult - lateral view - on leafImage 22: Male adult - lateral view - on twigImage 23: Male adult - lateral view - on twig (2)Image 24: Pupa - female - latero-dorsal view - close-upImage 25: Pupa - female - ventral view - close-upImage 26: Pupa - male - dorsal view - close-upImage 27: Pupa - male - lateral view - close-upImage 28: Pupa - male - latero-dorsal view - close-upImage 29: Pupa - male - ventral view - close-upImage 30: Pupa - male - ventral view - close-up (2)Image 31: Frass - 10 Aug - enlargedImage 32: Larva - 10 Aug - foreparts - dorsal view - enlargedImage 33: Larva - 10 Aug - foreparts - lateral view - enlargedImage 34: Larva - 10 Aug - foreparts - lateral view - enlarged (2)Image 35: Larva - 10 Aug - head - anterior view - enlargedImage 36: Larva - 10 Aug - head - anterior view - enlarged (2)Image 37: Larva - 10 Aug - tail - dorso-lateral view - enlargedImage 38: Larva - 10 Aug - tail - lateral view - enlargedImage 39: Larva - 25 July - young - dorsal view - enlargedImage 40: Larva - 25 July - young - lateral view - enlargedImage 41: Larva - 25 July - young - lateral view - enlarged (2)Image 42: Pupa - female - anal point and outline of genitalia - latero-ventral view - highly enlargedImage 43: Pupa - female - anal point and outline of genitalia - ventral view - highly enlargedImage 44: Pupa - female - anal point and outline of genitalia - ventro-lateral view - highly enlargedImage 45: Pupa - head - lateral view - highly enlargedImage 46: Pupa - head - latero-ventral view - highly enlargedImage 47: Pupa - male - anal point and outline of genitalia - latero-ventral view - highly enlargedImage 48: Pupa - male - anal point and outline of genitalia - ventral view - highly enlargedImage 49: Pupa - male - anal point and outline of genitalia - ventro-lateral view - highly enlarged
3: Deilephila elpenor (Elephant Hawk-moth)
31 May 2003 OSGR: SU56 51° 20’ N, 1° 10’ W Vice County: Berks (VC 22) England
in Heath Trap 30/31 May 03
Image 1: Adult - dorsal view - pale backgroundImage 2: Adult - dorsal view - pale background (2)
4: Deilephila elpenor (Elephant Hawk-moth)
25 Aug 2001 OSGR: SU56 51° 20’ N, 1° 10’ W Vice County: Berks (VC 22) England
on Evening Primrose
Image 1: Larva - anterior end - dorsal view - close-upImage 2: Larva - anterior end - lateral view - close-upImage 3: Larva - anterior view - close-upImage 4: Larva - anterior view - close-up (2)Image 5: Larva - anterior view - close-up (3)Image 6: Larva - dorsal viewImage 7: Larva - lateral viewImage 8: Larva - tail - lateral view - close-up
5: Deilephila elpenor (Elephant Hawk-moth)
28 Jul 2001 OSGR: SU88 51° 30’ N, 0° 50’ W Vice County: Bucks (VC 24) England
at light
Image 1: Adult - dorsal view - on mothing sheetImage 2: Adult - dorsal view - on mothing sheet (2)
6: Deilephila elpenor (Elephant Hawk-moth)
15 Sep 1978 OSGR: SE24 53° 60’ N, 1° 40’ W Vice County: Mid-west Yorks (VC 64) England
Larvae on Rosebay Willow Herb
Image 1: Larva - in situ - side viewImage 2: Larva - in situ - top viewImage 3: Larva - eye spot - enlargedImage 4: Larva - eye spots - enlargedImage 5: Larva - fore parts - enlargedImage 6: Larva - head - face view - enlargedImage 7: Larva - head - side view - enlargedImage 8: Larva - spiracle - highly enlarged
7: Deilephila elpenor (Elephant Hawk-moth)
2 Jun 1970 OSGR: ZZ00 United Kingdom
Image 1: Adult - dorsal viewImage 2: Lateral view
8: Deilephila elpenor (Elephant Hawk-moth)
7 Jul 1968 OSGR: SO71 51° 50’ N, 2° 20’ W Vice County: West Glos (VC 34) England
Laid eggs which were reared.
Image 1: Female pupa - swellings of developing reproductive organs - enlargedImage 2: Male pupa - swellings of developing reproductive organs - highly enlarged

Deilephila elpenor (Elephant Hawk-moth) may be included in identification literature listed under the following higher taxa:

NBNNBN (data.nbn.org.uk) has a distribution map for Deilephila elpenor (Elephant Hawk-moth)
BioInfoBioInfo (www.bioinfo.org.uk) has 5 host/parasite/foodplant and/or other relationships for Deilephila elpenor (Elephant Hawk-moth)
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