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Welcome to Daves Moth and
Butterfly World - Species Name: Eyed Hawk-Moth | ||||||||
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Welcome to Dave McCormick's Moth and Butterfly World. Here is information on the Eyed Hawk-Moth (Smerinthus ocellata). Hear Scientific Name
Go Back to Smerinthinae Page Go to Thumbnail Species Index Information
This moth is found in UK and Europe. It is fairly well
distributed throughout England and Wales, this species
has a sombre, camouflaged appearance at rest, but if
provoked, flashes the hindwings, which are decorated
with intense blue and black 'eyes' on a pinkish
background.
In Northern Ireland this moth is scarce and is present on all counties. It tends to be found more often in the wetlands around the south shore of Lough Neagh, particularly at Peatlands Park in Armagh. It was once local in Londonderry but is was last recorded there in 1992 at Traad Point. This moth was discovered in Co Down in 2002 at Keel Point and is vary rare in Down area of Northern Ireland. Eyed Hawk-Moths occur in low density so it can be easy to overlook these moths in sites that may be suitable for them. Their flight period is between May-July and they prefer acidic sites where willows are common which includes fens, bogs and damp woodland. Similar Species Twin-spotted Sphinx (Smerinthus jamaicensis), Salicet Sphinx (Smerinthus saliceti), One-eyed Sphinx (Smerinthus cerisyi) , Smerinthus minor.Known Aberrations To Be Completed Adult Images "The Eyed Hawk-Moth, so called from a large and beautiful spot in each of the hind wings that somewhat resembles an eye. The fore wings are brown, with a very beautiful reddish bloom over them, and clouded with olive-brown. It has a wingspan of 70-80 mm. The hindwings are of a delicate rosy red at the base, and a pale brown towards the margin; and each has a large and beautiful eye-like spot, grey in the centre, surrounded with blue, and the blue surrounded by a black ring. The eyespots are not visible in resting position, where the forewings cover them. They are displayed when the moth feels threatened, and may startle a potential predator, giving the moth a chance to escape.
Mating Images None Caterpillar Images The skin of the caterpillar is rough, like shagreen (a type of leather of a horses or wild Ass back); it is pale green, sprinkled with white, and has seven oblique white stripes on each side. The horn at the tail is blue. It is very common in the autumn, feeding on apple trees in gardens, and on willow bushes in hedges. Pupae Images The chrysalis is red-brown, and glossy. It overwinters as a pupae which is underground. Forms Pages None Subspecies Pages None Aberrations None Videos Pages None References http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eyed_Hawk-moth - Eyed Hawk-Moth - Wikipedia http://www.ukmoths.org.uk/show.php?id=1694 - Eyed Hawk-Moth - (c) 2009, Ian Kimbler The Butterflies and Moths of Northern Ireland - (c) 2006, Robert Thompson, Brian Nelson Page last edited: 19/09/2009 21:41 (c) David
McCormick 2009 | |||||||||
