After years of searching for one these on Rosebay willowherb, this little chap crawled right past me on the pavement at Cow Green in Halifax town centre!
They are big aren't they. I once took one home and it escaped and fell into a tub of water. I assumed it was drowned, but it came back to life. Are you going to rear this one through to the moth stage, Sarah?
I took it back to Luddenden and popped it next to some Rosebay Willow and cleavers. Charlie said it was probably ready to burrow underground to pupate. Never thought of trying to rear it. Maybe next time if I ever find another one!
Wonderful creature! Remember this post from June, also in an urban context http://calderdale-wildlife.blogspot.com/2019/06/elephant-hawk-moth.html
ReplyDeleteA great find. I'd love to track one down, though I have seen others finds. I do get the moths in the trap occasionally, they are fantastic too.
ReplyDeleteThey are big aren't they. I once took one home and it escaped and fell into a tub of water. I assumed it was drowned, but it came back to life. Are you going to rear this one through to the moth stage, Sarah?
ReplyDeleteI took it back to Luddenden and popped it next to some Rosebay Willow and cleavers. Charlie said it was probably ready to burrow underground to pupate. Never thought of trying to rear it. Maybe next time if I ever find another one!
ReplyDelete