Small Elephant Hawk porcellus pupae

Small Elephant Hawk Dielephila porcellus

A charming, quite small Hawkmoth, coloured intense magenta and orange, flying in June/July.  Store pupae cool for the winter. Set up with nectar flowers and sprigs of Bedstraw for egg-laying. The larvae are miniatures of the Elephant Hawkmoth and not difficult to rear. Prepare lots of Bedstraw in advance. 

The larvae are recorded as accepting these alternative foodplants: Willowherbs Epilobium, Busy Lizzie and Balsam Impatiens, Vines Vitis, Creepers Parthenocissus, and Purple Loosestrife Lythrum.

This is an unusual species if you want to try something new.