# The Snout (*Hypena proboscidalis*) The Snout is a fun little moth with a long nose that looks like a snout! It has beautiful colors and loves to fly around flowers, making it a special part of nature. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Urban areas ![The Snout](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Hypena_proboscidalis_Pyskowice.jpg&width=800) Photo: Gower, CC BY 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hypena_proboscidalis_Pyskowice.jpg) ## Appearance The The Snout has drab, mottled brown wings that resemble dry leaves or bark, helping it camouflage perfectly. Its most striking feature is its two very long, hairy labial palps that project forward like a prominent 'snout' or proboscis. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Lepidoptera - **Family:** Erebidae - **Genus:** Hypena ## Interesting facts - Even in the dark, these moths can hear sounds using tiny 'ears' on their chest! - If you disturb it, The Snout often drops to the ground and pretends to be dead! - The Snout's caterpillars are very fussy, only eating stinging nettle leaves! - They can sometimes spend the entire winter hiding as adults before laying eggs! ## Special abilities - **Leaf Camouflage:** The Snout can perfectly blend into dry leaves or bark because of its mottled brown wings, helping them hide from predators. - **Night Navigator:** The Snout has keen night vision that helps them fly and find food during the darkest hours. - **Air-Tasting Snout:** The Snout has long, furry labial palps that act like antennae, helping them 'smell' the air to find tasty plants. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 30-38 mm - **Size:** 15-20 mm - **Lifespan:** 10-30 days - **Flight Speed:** 12 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding Larval Snouts munch on stinging nettle leaves, while adult Snouts sip sweet nectar from flowers. - **Age differences:** Larvae consume plant leaves, while adults feed on nectar and sap. - **Primary Foods:** Urtica dioica leaves, Urtica urens leaves, Flower nectar, Tree sap - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** Stinging Nettle (*Urtica dioica*) — Larvae feed exclusively on its leaves. - **Hunts:** Brown Long-eared Bat (*Plecotus auritus*) — Eats adult moths flying at night. - **Hunts:** Common Wasp (*Vespula vulgaris*) — Predates Snout moth larvae and pupae. - **Parasitizes:** Cabbage White Parasitoid (*Pteromalus puparum*) — Its larvae develop inside Snout moth pupae. ## Traits - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Camouflaged](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/camouflaged): Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment. - [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. - [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 It's best to look at moths from a distance and not touch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify The Snout? 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 The Snout's wingspan? 30-38 mm ### How big is The Snout? 15-20 mm ### How long does The Snout live? 10-30 days ### How fast can The Snout fly? 12 km/h ### What does The Snout eat? Larval Snouts munch on stinging nettle leaves, while adult Snouts sip sweet nectar from flowers. ### Where is The Snout usually found? Urban areas ### How does The Snout hunt? Foraging ## 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: [The Snout: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/the-snout)