Elephant Hawk-moth (Deilephila elpenor) – This stunning moth was attracted to my shed light last night. These are the super jets of the moth world for they fly at incredible speed. Yet in the daytime they are as gentle as kittens, and will let you handle them, provided you are gentle with them.
Copyright: Peter Hillman
Camera used: Nikon D7200
Date taken: 14th June 2017
Place: Attracted to moth trap, rear garden, Staffordshire
Nature Journeys 
LOL Good sense of humor, dear Pete 🙂
Have a nice day. Here, today a sunny day.
So I was also already a longer time out in our garden.
Best wishes
Didi
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Thank you, dear Didi 🙂
I am glad you have enjoyed a pleasant time out in the garden. The weather here has been lovely, too, so spent much of it outside.
Enjoy the rest of your day. Pete
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Thanks, dear Pete – also for you a relaxing evening 🙂
Didi
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🙂
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🙂
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Pink and brown Spitfire!
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Lol! 🙂
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Awesome critter, Pete! 🙂
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Thank you, Indira 🙂 You certainly couldn’t miss it if it flew through your window 🙂
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What a gorgeous moth and I love its coloring. Have never seen this moth, thanks for sharing.
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Thank you, Peggy, and my pleasure 🙂
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Gods that’s a biggun! I have a great fear of moths when they reach a certain size and I’ve seen Hawkmoths as close as this. But not for long. Hahahahaha. I don’t know if the elephant ones are larger than the normal ones, but I’m guessing so. It hasn’t stopped me writing poems about them or drawing them mind you. It’s the movement of the wings and a story I read in a horror book as a child about a moth that crawled into someone’s ear and lived there quite happily breeding and . . . Eating. Ye gads! *laughs*. Beautiful photos nonetheless Pete.
– Esme wearing a net curtain over her head upon the Cloud
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Thank you Esme 🙂 You so got me laughing again here with your net curtain over your head! 🙂 That sounds like one nasty horror story. But alas you would have to have elephant ears for this moth to get inside, reproduce and dine.
Interestingly they call it the Elephant Hawkmoth not because of its size but because the caterpillar can look a little bit like an elephant’s trunk. And as caterpillars go it is quite the pretty thing.
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Some part of that reminded me of a dodgy chat up line I barely recall being foisted upon me.
Hahahahaha.
I’m glad they aren’t huge mind, as I’ll sleep well now!
– Esme being dragged off the stage by a hook upon the Cloud
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🙂
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That is amazing and has to be one of the more spectacular bugs you have displayed. Never seen anything quite like it.
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Thank you, Ark 🙂 The caterpillar for this moth is also really quite something, but I haven’t seen one since I was a boy.
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That’s one beautiful elephant.
Flying pink elephants, a result of to much of something!
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Brian, you got me laughing here and I do thank you for that and your lovely comment 🙂
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Fabulous! I have yet to see one of these beauties. 🙂
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Thank you, Annie 🙂 They are fabulous! I hope you get to see one! Usually around at night and very much attracted to light.
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Beautiful! I can say I have never seen one of these before!
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Thank you, Sumyanna 🙂
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Beautiful photos, wonderfully captured!
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Thank you, Belinda 🙂 It was a kind and most accomodating elephant 🙂
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😊
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Very nice! Built like stealth bombers!
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They are! Thank you, Dwight! 🙂
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