Bedstraw Hawk-moth - Hyles gallii
Sphingidae : Macroglossinae
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Deilephila elpenor
Photo © Paul Bryant,  Woolpit, Suffolk

Deilephila elpenor Deilephila elpenor Deilephila elpenor Deilephila elpenor Deilephila elpenor Deilephila elpenor Deilephila elpenor Deilephila elpenor Deilephila elpenor Deilephila elpenor Deilephila elpenor Deilephila elpenor Deilephila elpenor Deilephila elpenor Deilephila elpenor Deilephila elpenor

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Immature stages
Deilephila elpenor Deilephila elpenor Deilephila elpenor Deilephila elpenor Deilephila elpenor Deilephila elpenor Deilephila elpenor

Similar Suffolk Species
Small Elephant Hawk-moth
Deilephila porcellus
Deilephila porcellus
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Elephant Hawk-moth
Deilephila elpenor

(Linnaeus, 1758) 1991 / 69.016

Morley's Final Catalogue: This hawk's Suffolk headquarters are, or were before their recent contamination, the broad marshes of the Gipping valley; here Baylis found many larvae at Ipswich, Crewe 'once took about thirty on a small patch of Galium palustre' at Stowmarket (Nat. 1857), and it was quite abundant on that plant at Bramford in 1894 (Mly) and mid-August 1917 (Vinter).

Recent Suffolk Status: A widespread and sometimes abundant species in the county. One of Suffolk's commonest hawk moth species.

Life history: Single brooded in the summer.

Identification: Similar to Small Elephant hawk, but larger with greenish markings.

Habitats: Wasteland, Gardens, Woodland, Heathland, grassland, woodland rides, scrub, wetlands.

Recorded in 56 (97%) of 58 10k Squares.
First Recorded in 1894.
Last Recorded in 2026.
Additional Stats

< Striped Hawk-moth | Small Elephant Hawk-moth >

Determination
List Species Records   [Show All Latest]
Latest 5 Records
Date#VC10k Area
25/06/2026125TM33 - Bawdsey/Felixstowe
19/06/2026526TL84 - Sudbury/Glemsford
19/06/20262025TM25 - Wickham Market/Otley
19/06/2026326TL84 - Sudbury/Glemsford
19/06/20261825TM46 - Minsmere/Leiston
Show Details | 1990 to 2025 | 2000 to 2025 | Graph Key
Express Record Elephant Hawk-moth
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Copyright © Lepidoptera UK 2026
   
Click Map for Details

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Forewing: 28-33mm.
Flight: One generation May-Aug.
Foodplant:   Rosebay Willowherb, other willowherbs and bedstraws, Fuschia
Red List: Least Concern (LC)
GB Status: Common
Verification Grade:  Adult: 1
 Immature Adult   [Show Flight Times]
     
Underlying maps using Digital Map Data © Norfolk Online Lepidoptera Archive - NOLA™ - Suffolk 2026. © James Wheeler - Norfolk Moths 2007 - 2026. Data © NOLA™ - Suffolk 2026