A delightful surprise awaited me this morning when I checked the moth trap in Milton, Oxfordshire. Among the catch were three Privet Hawk Moths (Sphinx ligustri) alongside a single Elephant Hawk Moth (Deilephila elpenor). The Privet Hawk Moth, the UK’s largest resident hawk moth, is always an impressive sight. These individuals were particularly striking, displaying the species’ characteristic pink and black banded abdomens. Their hindwings, often concealed at rest, were only partially visible, while the intensity of the pink colouration varied subtly between individuals, highlighting the remarkable diversity within this magnificent species.
