# Elephant Hawkmoth (*Deilephila elpenor*) The Elephant Hawkmoth is a colorful insect that looks like a tiny elephant! It has big eyes and beautiful green and pink wings. This moth loves to fly around flowers at night. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 1 - **Habitat:** Gardens - **Also known as:** Elephant Moth, Hawkmoth ![Elephant Hawkmoth](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Deilephila_elpenor_04.jpg&width=800) Photo: jean pierre Hamon (14), CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Deilephila_elpenor_04.jpg) ## Appearance The Elephant Hawkmoth has a stout, olive-green body with bold pink stripes and markings. Its forewings are green with pink borders, while the hindwings are a brighter pink. Its striking colors make it easily recognizable. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Lepidoptera - **Family:** Sphingidae - **Genus:** Deilephila ## Interesting facts - Baby Elephant Hawkmoths (caterpillars) are green or brown with four big "fake eyes"! - Its long feeding tube, a proboscis, can be even longer than its entire body! - Its name likely comes from the caterpillar's flexible, trunk-like snout, not the adult moth! - One of the biggest, most beautiful moths you can spot in gardens at twilight! ## Special abilities - **Night Nectar Sipper:** Elephant Hawkmoth can hover expertly while using its long proboscis to drink nectar from deep flowers at dusk. - **Serpent Camouflage:** Its caterpillar has false eye spots and can retract its head to mimic a small snake, scaring predators. - **Rapid Flier:** Elephant Hawkmoth has powerful wing muscles for incredibly fast, direct flight, making it a tricky insect to spot. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 55-70 mm - **Size:** 50-60 mm - **Lifespan:** 7-21 days - **Flight Speed:** 35 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding Adults sip nectar from flowers, while caterpillars munch on leaves of various plants. - **Age differences:** Larvae eat plant leaves, but adults drink nectar. - **Primary Foods:** honeysuckle nectar, valerian nectar, willowherb leaves, bedstraw leaves - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** [Honeysuckle](https://www.snappit.app/explore/honeysuckle) (*Lonicera periclymenum*) — helps flowers grow when sipping nectar. - **Eaten by:** Brown long-eared bat (*Plecotus auritus*) — a tasty snack for hungry bats at night. - **Eats:** [Great willowherb](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-willowherb) (*Epilobium hirsutum*) — caterpillars munch on its leaves to grow big. - **Eaten by:** [Eurasian magpie](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eurasian-magpie) (*Pica pica*) — birds often prey on its large caterpillars. ## Traits - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Moths are usually safe to watch, but don't touch them as they can be delicate. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Elephant Hawkmoth? Compare resting wing shape, forewing markings, antennae and body build. Small brown moths can hinge on fine details a phone photo can't always catch. Moth Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### What is Elephant Hawkmoth's wingspan? 55-70 mm ### How big is Elephant Hawkmoth? 50-60 mm ### How long does Elephant Hawkmoth live? 7-21 days ### How fast can Elephant Hawkmoth fly? 35 km/h ### What does Elephant Hawkmoth eat? Adults sip nectar from flowers, while caterpillars munch on leaves of various plants. ### Where is Elephant Hawkmoth usually found? Gardens ### How does Elephant Hawkmoth hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Skandinavisk Dyrepark](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/skandinavisk-dyrepark) — Central Denmark Region, DK · Zoo ## More Insects - [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) - [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*) - [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) --- Source: [Elephant Hawkmoth: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/elephant-hawkmoth)