69.003 Laothoe populi (Poplar Hawkmoth)
fw: 30-46mm, ws 72-92mm; May-Jul, sometimes bivoltine in south Aug-Sep; poplars / aspen (Populus spp), sallows / willows (Salix spp); common throughout GB
ID: Small white crescent on forewing; chestnut patches on hindwing. Rests with hindwing costa in front of the forewing costa exposing the costal half of the hindwing and concealing the chestnut patches. Proboscis short. Frenulum absent in male, vestigial in female; retinaculum absent. Smerinthus ocellata (Eyed Hawkmoth) has a similar resting posture, but is readily distinguished in the resting position by its black central thoracic streak and lack of any white central forewing crescent.
Dissection
Male genitalia
Larva
§1 Strumpshaw Fen, Norfolk; 09/06/2008
§2 Foulness, Essex; 22/05/2010
§3 Westcliff-on-sea, Essex; 20/07/2010
§4 St Lawrence, Isle of Wight; 02/06/2014
§5 St Lawrence, Isle of Wight; 03/06/2014
§6 Strumpshaw Fen, Norfolk; 16/05/2017; male; fw 34.4mm
§2 Foulness, Essex; 22/05/2010
§3 Westcliff-on-sea, Essex; 20/07/2010
§4 St Lawrence, Isle of Wight; 02/06/2014
§5 St Lawrence, Isle of Wight; 03/06/2014
§6 Strumpshaw Fen, Norfolk; 16/05/2017; male; fw 34.4mm
Page published 09/11/2014 (§1-5) | §6 added 05/04/2018