Head to head
Privet Hawk-moth vs Elephant Hawk-moth
Privet Hawk-moth
VS Elephant Hawk-moth
The privet hawk-moth and elephant hawk-moth are two large hawk-moths of European hedgerows and gardens, both flying at dusk, with very different colours and caterpillars.
| Privet Hawk-moth | Elephant Hawk-moth | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Sphinx ligustri | Deilephila elpenor |
| Adult colouring | An abdomen banded with pink and black, and pink and black bands on its hindwings, flashed when it is disturbed | Striking pink and olive-green wings |
| Caterpillar | A huge green caterpillar with purple and white diagonal stripes and a black-tipped horn at the rear | A caterpillar with a tapering, trunk-like front end that inflates two large eyespots to look like a snake |
| Caterpillar food | Privet, lilac, and ash | Willowherb and bedstraw |
| Size | Britain's largest resident hawk-moth, with a wingspan of up to about 12 cm | Ranks among the larger hawk-moths across its range |
| Flight | Flies at dusk and after dark, visiting honeysuckle and other scented flowers, and is often drawn to lights | A fast, direct flier often seen visiting flowers at dusk |
| Habitat | Hedgerows, woodland edges, and gardens across Europe and temperate Asia | Forest edges and grassland across Europe and parts of temperate Asia |
| Conservation status | Not Evaluated globally, though common in southern Britain | Least Concern |
Privet Hawk-moth vs Elephant Hawk-moth: common questions
Why is it called the elephant hawk-moth?
Its caterpillar has a tapering, trunk-like front end that resembles an elephant's trunk.
Which caterpillar mimics a snake?
The elephant hawk-moth's, which draws in its head and inflates two large eyespots near the front when threatened.
Which one eats privet?
The privet hawk-moth, whose huge green caterpillar feeds on privet, lilac, and ash.