Elephant Hawkmoth
Deilephila elpenor
Tap image to enlarge · Wikimedia Commons
Overview
The Elephant Hawkmoth is one of Britain's most spectacular insects — a large, streamlined moth with vivid pink and olive-green wings, active at dusk when it hovers before flowers like a hummingbird. The name comes from the caterpillar which has a snout-like head that can be retracted, giving it an elephant-trunk appearance when disturbed (a display that also reveals false eyes). John Dempsey of Green Sefton specifically names it as a beautiful pollinator of the Sefton Coast.
At a Glance
| Order | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Sphingidae |
| Habitat | Dune scrub · Rough grassland with Willowherb · Garden |
| Diet | Adults: honeysuckle and other deep-tubed flowers. Larvae: Rosebay Willowherb, Bedstraw, Fuchsia. |
| UK population | Widespread and increasing; one of Britain's most beautiful moths |
| Sefton Coast | Present throughout the Sefton Coast wherever larval foodplants grow; regular in moth traps |
| Conservation | UK Green List |
Where to See It
Dune scrub with Rosebay Willowherb and Bedstraws. Named in Green Sefton's moth accounts as a Sefton Coast species.
Identification
Large, streamlined moth. Vivid pink and olive-green colour scheme. Hovers at flowers at dusk. Wingspan 45–60mm. Cigar-shaped body. Unmistakeable colour combination.
Viewing & Photography Tips
Visit dune scrub at dusk in June. Watch Rosebay Willowherb and Honeysuckle for hovering moths. Any moth that hovers while feeding is likely a Hawkmoth. A moth trap will catch them reliably.
Conservation Status
UK Green List
This species has a favourable conservation status in the UK and remains an important part of Sefton Coast biodiversity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the Elephant Hawkmoth really see in colour at night?
Research has shown that Elephant Hawkmoths can perceive colour in very low light conditions — down to starlight levels — making them among the very few animals capable of colour vision in the dark. This adaptation helps them identify the pink flowers (particularly willowherb and Honeysuckle) they prefer to visit at night.
Related Species
Plan your visit to the Sefton Coast
Marshside RSPB, Formby pinewoods, Ainsdale NNR — practical guides to getting there, what to bring, and the best spots for each season.