Cheshire
Macro-Moths - Poplar Hawk-moth
The
Poplar Hawk-moth - Laothoe populi Linnaeus
Imago / Adult:
The adult moth (imago) varies between 75mm and 95 mm
wingspan. The ground colour is generally grey though a pink form does
rarely occur and has been taken in Warrington in the 1970s. It is
a resident moth which is single-brooded and normally flies from mid-May
through to the end of July. In warm summers a partial second generation
may occur with adults being on the wing up to late August / early
September. A common moth in the Vice-Counties of Cheshire (VC-58)
and South Lancashire (VC-59). The moth comes readily to both MV and
actinic light sources and less readily to tungsten ones.
Larva:
The larvae, usually 60 to 70mm in length, are of the
normal hawk-moth larval format being large and having a spike/point/horn/tail
at the rear of the body. The ground colour of the larva is an apple
green colour usually with oblique yellow stripes one pair of which
goes up either side of the horn. Occasionally a reddish diagonal stripe
accompanies this yellow stripe. The spiracles are a reddish-brown
colour and are often, though not always, set in a white lateral stripe.
Foodplant(s):
The foodplants consist of many species of Salix,
such as: Sallow, Aspen, Poplar and Willow.
Overwintering:
The moth overwinters as a pupa (chrysalis) and in
the late autumn and early winter months is to be readily found by
digging around the roots of the foodplant trees, especially isolated
trees.