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List of moths of Great Britain (Sphingidae) facts for kids

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The family Sphingidae comprises the "hawk-moths", of which seventeen occur regularly in Great Britain:

Subfamily Sphinginae

Sphinx ligustri MHNT femelle
Privet hawk-moth
  • [Agrius cingulata, pink-spotted hawk-moth — probable import]
  • Agrius convolvuli, convolvulus hawk-moth — migrant
  • Acherontia atropos, death's-head hawk-moth — migrant
  • [Manduca quinquemaculata, five-spotted hawk-moth — probable import]
  • [Manduca sexta, tomato sphinx — probable import]
  • [Manduca rustica, rustic sphinx — probable import]
  • Sphinx ligustri, privet hawk-moth — south
  • [Sphinx drupiferarum, wild cherry sphinx — possible migrant, more likely import]
  • Hyloicus pinastri, pine hawk-moth — south and south-east (localized)

Subfamily Smerinthinae

Mimas tiliae MHNT male
Lime hawk-moth
  • Mimas tiliae, lime hawk-moth — south and centre
  • Smerinthus ocellata, eyed hawk-moth — south and centre
  • Laothoe populi, poplar hawk-moth — throughout

Subfamily Macroglossinae

Deilephila porcellus MHNT
Small elephant hawk-moth
  • Hemaris tityus, narrow-bordered bee hawkmoth — south-west, west-central, north-west and east (Nationally Scarce B) ‡
  • Hemaris fuciformis, broad-bordered bee hawkmoth — south and east-central (Nationally Scarce B)
  • Macroglossum stellatarum, hummingbird hawk-moth — common migrant, resident in south-west
  • Proserpinus proserpina, willowherb hawk-moth — south and east (may be accidental import)
  • Daphnis nerii, oleander hawk-moth — migrant
  • Hyles euphorbiae, spurge hawk-moth — migrant
  • Hyles gallii, bedstraw hawk-moth — migrant (occasionally over-winters)
  • [Hyles nicaea, Mediterranean hawk-moth — possible migrant, more likely import]
  • [Hyles hippophaes, seathorn hawk-moth — possible migrant, more likely import]
  • Hyles livornica, striped hawk-moth — migrant
  • Hyles lineata, white-lined hawk-moth — ?vagrant
  • Deilephila elpenor, elephant hawk-moth — south and centre (common), north (rare)
  • Deilephila porcellus, small elephant hawk-moth — south, centre and north (localized)
  • Hippotion celerio, silver-striped hawk-moth — migrant

Species listed in the 2007 UK Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) are indicated by a double-dagger symbol (‡)—species so listed for research purposes only are also indicated with an asterisk (‡*).

See also

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List of moths of Great Britain (Sphingidae) Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.