Gallery Category: Lepidoptera

Wasp-mimic moth

Drawing of a moth that really does look an awful lot like a wasp. It has a black and yellow body with bright orange antennae.

Orcynia calcarata Distribution: Amazon (not the tax-dodging bookshop destroyer) Size: 450mm wingspan Diet: Not sure Now, I can’t find much information about this one other than, obviously, it really does look like a wasp. So, rather than fill this page with a load of SEO-friendly content, why don’t I link off to this short video […]

Cecropia Silkmoth

Illustration of a large brown and orange moth

Hyalophora cecropia Distribution: North America Size: 130 – 180mm wingspan Diet: Ash, birch, box elder, alder, elm, maple, poplar, cherry, plum, willow, apple, & lilac leaves (caterpillar) Nothing (adult moth) These large beautiful moths spend the majority of their lives as caterpillars, munching on a multitude of leaves. After emerging from its cocoon, the moth […]

Elephant Hawkmoth

Illustration of a lovely yellow and pink moth

Deilephila elpenor Distribution: The Palearctic region Size: 45 – 60mm wingspan Diet: Bedstraws, willowherbs, fuchsias (caterpillar), Nectar (moth) D.elpenor have excellent night vision – they’re able to see colour at night time which is handy as they’re nocturnal. This impressive colour vision has likely evolved because these beautiful moths feed on nectar during the darkest […]

Oleander Hawkmoth

Illustration of a green hawkmoth with small pink areas on its wings

Daphnis nerii Distribution: Africa, Asia & Hawaii Size: 90 – 130mm wingspan Diet: Oleander leaves (caterpillar), Nectar (adult moth) This beautiful moth is usually found in Africa, Asia and some Mediterranean islands like Crete and Sicily. It then migrates to eastern and southern Europe when it starts to get a bit warmer in the summer. […]

Striped Hawkmoth

Illustration of a striped brown and black moth, with pink lower wings

Hyles livornica Distribution: Africa & Asia Size: 60 – 90mm wingspan Diet: Willow-herbs, bedstraws, fuchsia (caterpillar), Nectar (adult moth) Hawkmoths are also known as Sphinx moths because, if threatened, their caterpillars will rear their thorax up with a lowered head, making them look (a bit) like an Egyptian Sphinx. Hawkmoths are all excellent fliers, they can […]