Privet hawk-moth
The privet hawk-moth is a big, strong moth with wings about 12 centimetres across. When it rests, it holds its wings down along its body. If you bother a male, it can make a hissing sound like a tiny snake.
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Fun facts
The male hisses by rubbing together little scales and spines at the end of its body.
The caterpillars can be found in July and August.
When it is time to change, the caterpillar digs itself into the earth.
It stays underground through winter and flies out the next June.
Most asked questions about Privet hawk-moth
?What does the privet hawk-moth caterpillar eat?
Privet, ash, lilac, jasmine and several other plants.
?How big is the privet hawk-moth?
Its wings are about 12 centimetres across, which makes it a very big moth.
?Is the privet hawk-moth dangerous?
No. The male can hiss when bothered, but it is harmless.
For bug experts
- Scientific name
- Sphinx ligustri
- Named by
- Linnaeus, 1758
- Group
- Moths
- Family
- Sphingidae
- Classification
- Insecta > Lepidoptera > Sphingidae
- Lives on
- Europe, Asia
- Also known as
- Privet hawk moth
Where the facts come from
- Sphinx ligustri (Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0): what it looks like, where it lives, what it eats, sizes and fun facts, retold in simple words.
- Picture by picture taken by Olaf Leillinger. CC BY-SA 2.5, Wikimedia Commons. The round sticker of this bug is cut from the same picture.
If we got something wrong, sorry, we are bug fans, not a science journal. Tell us at [email protected] and we will fix it.
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