A large Convolvulus Hawk-moth freshly emerged from its underground pupa.
Agrius convolvuli is common throughout Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia. partly as a migrant. It is a brownish-grey moth with a pink and black striped body. An immigrant from Africa, some adults fly to Europe from June to August and breed there; the offspring are those most commonly seen in Britain and Ireland. It flies low (only a few metres) over the sea.
The male has heavier markings than the female and sometimes has a broad central cross-band. The male also has thicker, longer antennae than the females. They usually hold the wings close to the body whilst resting, like the Privet and Pine Hawk-moths.
The adults fly from June to December, but are most commonly seen from late August to late November, when other migrant species are often in the UK. They are nocturnal and rest by day, when it can often be seen on walls, rocks and tree trunks. They are attracted to light and can be seen from dusk to dawn. As they have an unusually long proboscis, they are able to feed on tubular flowers e.g. tobacco plant (Nicotiana), petunia, lilies and phlox, that many other moths cannot feed on.
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