Photo © Nick Montegriffo
Spurge Hawk-moth
Hyles euphorbiae
Checklist Number69.013 [B&F: 1986]
Verification
Record will require further evidence, at least a good photograph, unless CMR is aware recorder has confidence in identification
Classification
| Family: | Sphingidae |
| Subfamily: | Macroglossinae |
| Genus: | Hyles |
| Species: | euphorbiae |
| Authority: | (Linnaeus, 1758) |
Very rare immigrant (less than 10 previous UK records) from southern Europe, appearing in southern England, absent in many years. In Hampshire two records, one from Southampton in August 1871 and one from Bournemouth in July 1908, are given by Goater (1974), with reservations about their provenance; the whereabouts of the specimens, if they exist, is unknown. Not recorded from the Isle of Wight to date. Wingspan 64-77 mm. The most likely confusion species is Bedstraw Hawk-moth H. gallii, but that species has narrow central stripe on forewing, which does not reach the costa. Larva feeds on Wood Spurge, no evidence of breeding in the UK.
The abundance in each month is indicated as follows:
No records
Very occasional
Irregular
Uncommon
Off-peak, but not unusual
Off-peak, but not unusual
Main flight time| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adult | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Larval | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Records by week (adult)
Records by week (larval)
VC11 South Hampshire
| Site | Date | Quantity | Recorder | Stage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southampton (SU41) | 24/08/1871 | one | Weston | Adult |
| Bournemouth (SZ09) | 3116 | one | W G Hooker | Adult |
| North End (SU60) | 01/07/2015 | one | Nick Montegriffo | Adult |
