Saturday 24 September 2016

Actually, make that two Convolvulus Hawks

After my second Convolvulus Hawk-moth (Agrius convolvuli) in two weeks, last night at the trap, I was stunned this morning to find another one this morning in the trap.  I assume they were attracted initially to a large patch of Tobacco Plant (Nicotiana) - Sensation Mixed, grown from a packet of seed which I got last year with Atropos.  So three in two weeks is more than I could have hoped for, I wonder how many there are around!

The behaviour of Convolvulus Hawk is interesting, they were obviously attracted to the nicotiana initially, but the moth trap light pulled them in, but two of the three did not go in the trap.  They settled on an adjacent brick wall, so worth checking around the trap.  The one that landed there last night around 10:30 pm, did not move again, it was still in the same place this morning, and stayed there all day.  My very limited experience of this species, based on two previous sightings, is that they will stay put in the open (assuming they are out of the sun and not disturbed).

I put the second moth on the wall with the first after I emptied the trap first thing this morning, then moved it for a side by side shot, but otherwise they did not move all day.




Neil Fletcher, Walter's Ash, VC24

3 comments:

  1. They even look in pretty good condition. Is there a possibility that they bred over here?
    Andy.

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  2. Great result, Neil - they just need to move a bit further north to my garden!

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  3. There's been a lot of caterpillars found this year, including some locally, so seems there was some breeding (eggs laid by migrants earlier in year)

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