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This large colourful moth is are largest native hawk moth, with a wingspan of over 10cm, A full grown caterpillar is enormous growing to a length of 12cm with diagonal white/ lilac stripes, with a large black horn. Occasionally I find larvae in the wild to photograph, so far only feeding on wild privet, they also feed on lilac, holly and ash,
and Larvae fed in captivity on lilac produce larger pupae than other food plants. I always enjoy hearing this powerful moth when being released into the wild it is a fast flying moth, when at rest it is well camouflaged resting on a tree or even a fence post, when disturbed it open its fore-wings wide showing its black and red warning stripes to detour predators.
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