BioImages: The Virtual Field-Guide (UK)

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

Date:	25 July 2005
OS grid ref:	SU56
Lat/Lon:	51° 20' N, 1° 10' W
Location:	Vice County: Berks, VC22, England
Stage or state:	Larva
Record Summary:	3 small pale green hawkmoth caterpillars on Short-fruited Willow Herb in garden
Associated organism:	on live leaf,stem of Epilobium obscurum
Identification Notes:	2 larvae survived (the other died following damage - the caterpillars were found while weeding) Photographed: July: 25, 29, 30. Aug: 10, Sept: 12. July 25th: as found (pale green, eye-spots hardly visible). 1st or 2nd instar? July 29th: first larva, after ecdysis (pale green, crescent-shaped yellow eye-spots). July 30th ?first larva, after ecdysis (dark green, ellipsoid yellow eye-spots with broad black margins). Aug 10th : both larvae had darkened and were almost full-grown. Went down to pupate: c. 20th August. Spun a weak cocoon just under leaves on surface of compost, incorporating fragments into the structure. Sept 11th: cocoons and pupae. June 13th 2006: 1st imago (male) emerged and was photographed. June 18th 2006: 2nd imago (female) emerged and was photographed. The young larvae were very fussy, only accepting small non-hairy willowherb leaves. They refused Hoary Willowherb, Evening Primrose and Fuchsia. Well grown larvae (by 10th Aug) would happily take both Evening Primrose and Fuschia.
Photo Summary:	Larva (various instars), cocoon, pupa, anal point, imago