1972       Agrius convolvuli (Linnaeus, 1758) CONVOLVULUS HAWK

A strongly migratory species headquartered south of 40°N that ranges from a near annual in southern England, to uncommon in northern Scotland, the larva feeding on field bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis). The species does not appear to be able to survive the UK winter in any stage; hundreds of adults and some larvae were recorded in 2006 and yet relatively few were seen the following year. The adult is fond of nectaring at scented flowers from dusk onwards. In Dorset, the moth has been recorded at least once in each of the past twenty years and usually between mid-August and late-October. Very occasionally first brood adults make it to the UK between late-May and mid-July. Larvae are seldom encountered, and even in favourable years tend to be restricted to the coast. The attraction of scented blooms was amply demonstrated in mid-September 1991, when three light traps were placed in the vicinity of the ‘Globe’at Durlston. A vase of freshly cut Nicotiana was placed next to one of these, and of the total of twenty-three adults recorded by daybreak, thirteen males and eight females were found within, on and around the ‘Nicotiana’ trap.

1973       Acherontia atropos (Linnaeus, 1758) DEATH'S-HEAD HAWK

A strongly migratory species with a similar distribution to that of the Convolvulus Hawk₁₉₇₂ that ranges from an occasional in southern England to a relative rarity in northern Scotland, the larva feeds on the leaves of potato (Solanum tuberosum). The species does not appear to be able to survive the UK winter in any stage. In Dorset,the moth is rare, and has been recorded on twenty occasions in the past twenty years, mainly as adults. Historically, observations of larvae and pupae tended to outweigh adult records in a given year. This was probably due to the greater availability of food sources untainted by insecticides and herbicides, both within commercial and home-grown potato crops. A huge caterpillar eating a gardener’s potato leaves was not something that went unnoticed, and such finds were readily communicated to the entomologists of the day. Overall, the species has probably declined, at least in Dorset, and possibly across much of Europe given the widespread changes in agricultural practice and fewer gardens supporting vegetable produce. Like the Convolvulous Hawk₁₉₇₂, first brood immigrant adults very occasionally make it to the UK between mid-May and early-July; however these represent roughly one in ten of all historical adult records.

An account of the larva feeding on an alternative food source in 1893 follows: “A splendid variety of a nearly full-fed larva was brought to me today which had been found feeding on Duke of Argyll’s Teaplant (Lycium barbarum) growing in Corfe street. Searched the ‘tea tree’ in Corfe where the above was found and the one or two at the next cottages, and found two nearly full fed larvae. On showing one, found close to her door, to old Mrs Battrick she told me that last Sunday she had seen one there and feeling sure that it must be a 'locust', she put it on the ground and dropped a brick on the top of it! Poor beast!" (Reverend E Bankes).

1976       Sphinx ligustri (Linnaeus, 1758) PRIVET HAWK

A species found in southern England and Wales, the larva feeding on wild privet (Ligustrum vulgare), holly (Ilex aquifolium), ash (Fraxinus excelsior) and lilac (Syringa vulgaris). In Dorset, the moth is commonest in chalky districts where wild privet and ash occur together and rarest where these two plants are absent, for example on heathland. Frequent trapping in holly-rich habitat, such as Holt Wood, has failed to produce the moth, although Reverend E Bankes found the larva feeding on a holly tree in his garden at Corfe Castle in 1888.    

1978       Hyloicus pinastri (Linnaeus, 1758) PINE HAWK

A species confined to southern and eastern England, the larva feeding on scots pine (Pinus sylvestris). In Dorset, the moth is common in sandy areas where self-sown and block-planted scots pine grow. Dispersed singletons are occasionally recorded at light traps well away from conifer habitat, for example there are a number of records from Portland. The species has a protracted flight period with the adults still very much in evidence during July and August; this is a much longer duration than the national May and June norm. This suggests either a protracted emergence period or a bivoltine cycle. The peak of the theoretical second brood in late July is on average, six times as large as that of the peak in late May. A second ‘Pine Hawk’ species, Hyloicus maurorum, a resident of pine forest across southern France and Iberia, is currently spreading northwards into northern France, and may well appear on our shores over the next few years. Unfortunately, externally it is not easily differentiated from our Pine Hawk, other than to say that it is less contrasted in all features, the colouration often being lighter. It would certainly be worth retaining light-coloured poorly-marked specimens trapped along the coastal belt during immigration events.

1979       Mimas tiliae (Linnaeus, 1758) LIME HAWK

A species restricted to southern England, the larva feeding on birch (Betulae spp.), lime (Tiliae spp.), english elm (Ulmus procera) and alder (Alnus glutinosus). In Dorset, the moth is at low density and most frequent in plantations, town avenues and parks where lime (Tiliae platyphyllos X cordata) has beenplanted. The species has also been noted in small numbers within woodland containing small-leaved lime (Tiliae cordata). Larvae have yet to be found feeding on tree species other than lime within the county. Adults are occasionally recorded at light traps well away any known food sources and these are likely to be dispersed individuals. The following record refers to a potential second brood individual, and one of only three Lime Hawks to be trapped in twenty-five years of recording at Arne: Arne Wood, at MV on 18 August 1990 (B Pickess).

1980       Smerinthus ocellata (Linnaeus, 1758) EYED HAWK

A species occurring in England and Wales, the larva feeding on sallow and willow (Salix spp.), apple (Malus spp.) and aspen (Populus tremula). In Dorset, the moth is widespread across the county but at low density. It is most often seen in damp habitats where Salix abounds, on the edges of lagoons, marshes and rivers, and also on damp heathland where there are large stocks of sallow. The moth has also been noted close to orchards with apple trees, for example at Holnest. The national norm of a partial second brood in late July and early August holds true for Dorset. The following very late example was trapped in sallow-rich damp heathland habitat: Studland Heath, at MV light on 13 October 1991 (P Davey).

An account of a lucky escape is recorded in the Reverend E Bankes diary entry for 26 June 1905: “When approaching Norden Farm pond at 9:15pm (late dusk) a swarthy form, looking like a large hawk-moth, passed me flying in the direction of the pond. On arriving at the pond, I watched it for a few minutes flying round and round over the pond frequently just lowering itself so as to dip itself in the water as some birds often enjoy doing. Finally in one of these plunges it got too far immersed and was unable to extricate itself. It then began to swim vigorously and made considerable progress reaching the middle of the pond, but since it then appeared to be unable to make much headway though still swimming vigorously, I walked into the pond and fished it out with my net. It proved to be a large female Eyed Hawk! I can only assume that it saw, as I myself did, in the water the last gleams of light in the sky, and flew thereto as it would to a lamp.”

1981       Laothoe populi (Linnaeus, 1758) POPLAR HAWK

A species found throughout the British Isles, the larva feeding on sallow and willow (Salix spp.), and poplar (Populus spp.). In Dorset, the moth is widespread across the county and frequent. It shares the Eyed Hawk’s₁₉₈₀ preference for damp habitats, but is recorded four times more often on average. The moth is on the wing between late April and early September, and appears to be double brooded with two distinct peaks, however, the national norm is for a single brood between May and July. The following Poplar Hawks were recorded at light traps on rather late dates at the end of warmer than usual summers: Iwerne Minster, on 22 September 1964 (H Moore), Puddletown, on 19 September 2002 (H Wood Homer), Hurn, on 26 September 2006 (M Jeffes).

1982       Hemaris tityus (Linnaeus, 1758) NARROW-BORDERED BEE HAWK     Notable/Nb

A very local species in the British Isles, the larva feeding on devil’s-bit scabious (Succisa pratensis). In Dorset, the species appears to have declined in parallel with the reduction in unimproved wetland and unimproved grassland across the country. Historically, the moth has been recorded in a wide range of localities across the county, but at the time of writing, only a handful of colonies persist. The species is rather difficult to locate in all its stages, even where the foodplant is abundant.

Damp Heathland

The moth has all but disappeared from south-east Dorset. The species was evidently well established in a number of sites where devil’s-bit scabious grew in ditches, on railway embankments and along tracks fabricated with ball clay from the Kaolinite fields, between Creech and Norden, and that were worked during the nineteenth and early twentieth century. The few damp scabious-bearing sites that remain, such as The Triangle at Arne, the tramway across Stoborough Heath, and certain forest tracks at Wytch Heath, may still harbour the species, but recent searches have failed to locate larvae or adults; the last occasion larvae and adults was seen was in the late 1970s. Further research is recommended to locate the species on damp heathland SSSIs and SNCIs to the south-west of Poole Harbour; species recovery programmes should be implemented with the emphasis on light grazing to create the preferred short sward containing good stocks of devil’s-bit scabious plants.

Old Damp Grassland

Occasional recent sightings of ‘Bee Hawks’ from the Blackmore Vale suggest the species may still be resident in the area, although these examples were not positively identified. Devil’s-bit scabious is abundant at Rooksmoor although growing in deep sward, situation that is ideal for Marsh Fritillary butterflies, but not for this Hawk-moth. Elsewhere, historic records from the Kingcombe, Powerstock and Drakenorth area, suggest colonisation of the unimproved grassland on the ill-drained clay soils where devil’s-bit scabious is locally abundant. Further research is recommended to locate the species on old damp neutral grassland SSSIs and SNCIs, and where found, species recovery programmes should be implemented with particular emphasis on grazing to create viable stocks of devil’s-bit scabious within short-turf enclaves.

Dry Calcareous Grassland

Sites that host colonies of the Narrow-bordered Bee Hawk comprise unimproved short-turf calcareous grassland on steep-sided scarps. Devil’s-bit scabious is abundant at Hog Hill and Giant Hill, and larvae have been found feeding on the smaller rosettes growing there. The Melbury Down site supports moderate numbers of devil’s-bit scabious, but larvae have so far only been found feeding on small scabious (Scabiosa columbaria). A handful of adult singleton moths have been observed on chalk downland across the central and north-east of Dorset, particularly during the warm and sunny April in 2007, but no further colonies have been discovered. A total of seven moths seen in flight around the earthworks atop Hod Hill on 26 April 2007, suggests re-colonisation of this site. Further research is recommended to locate more colonies on dry calcareous grassland SSSIs and SNCIs, and where successful, species recovery programmes should be implemented with particular emphasis on grazing to create viable stocks of devil’s-bit scabious and small scabious within short-turf terrain.

The following moths were identified as Broad-bordered Bee Hawk₁₉₈₃ but were more likely to have been Narrow-bordered Bee Hawks, given the dry calcareous grassland habitats where they were observed. Bulbarrow Hill is now so heavily grazed that very few scabious plants remain. France Down now comprises plantation beech and intensive arable: Bulbarrow Hill, by day in 1944 (BSNHS), France Down, two by day on 22 May 1955 (H Moore).

1983       Hemaris fuciformis (Linnaeus, 1758) BROAD-BORDERED BEE HAWK     Notable/Nb

A local species confined to southern England, the larva feeding on honeysuckle (Lonicera periclymenum). In Dorset, the species is head-quartered across the Bagshot Sands region where it colonises woodland edges on damp or humid heath particularly where honeysuckle hangs from trees and scrub. Elsewhere, larvae have been found on the sandy soil on Pentridge Hill in the far north-east of the county. It remains to be seen whether the ‘Bee Hawks’ seen flying along woodland edges at Rooksmoor turn out to be this species. Larvae are relatively easy to locate at eye-level during mid-summer; the tell-tale ‘button holes’ aligned either side of the mid-rib of a honeysuckle leaf often reveals on closer inspection, a Broad-bordered Bee Hawk caterpillar. Although threats posed to the species in Dorset are considered low, continued monitoring of this moth is recommended and retention of wooded regions within heathland blocks and on their boundaries would undoubtedly be beneficial to this species. In warmer climes in southern Europe, both this Hawk-moth and the Narrow-bordered Bee Hawk₁₉₈₂ are double brooded, and in the prolonged hot summer of 1976, second brood moths emerged and were seen in the following locations: Morden Bog, on 26 July 1976 (Dr J Hasler), Arne Wood, on 10 August 1976 (B Pickess), Brownsea Island, on 11 August 1976 (A Bromby). The following record indicates a foodplant other than honeysuckle: Bournemouth, larvae feeding on snowberry in 1892 (Entomogists Record 25:121).

1984       Macroglossum stellatarum (Linnaeus, 1758) HUMMING-BIRD HAWK

A strongly migratory species headquartered south of 40°N that ranges from a near annual in southern England, to uncommon in northern Scotland, the larva feeding on hedge bedstraw (Galium mollugo), lady’s bedstraw (Galium verum) and wild madder (Rubia peregrina). In Dorset, the moth (the ultimate flying machine!) is an increasingly regular visitor. Individuals have been recorded in every month of the year, but those seen in the first half tend to be immigrants from abroad. Exceptionally, larvae may be found in mid-summer fully exposed and feeding on lady’s bedstraw growing within dry unimproved short-turf grassland; 2003 was a particularly good season for larval records: Freshwater Bay, thirteen larvae on lady’s bedstraw on 10 July 2003 (R Cook), and Badbury Rings, four larvae on lady’s bedstraw on 9 July 2003 (P Davey). There is one record of a larva feeding on goosegrass (Galium aparine). Adults seen in the second half of the year may be home-grown, but undoubtedly resident populations are augmented by further waves of immigrants from transient colonies in northern Europe, or from sources further south. Classic behaviour of the moth is to hover hummingbird-like whilst nectaring on flowers or to examine wall faces or rocks in sunshine by day, however, roughly ten per cent of all adult records relate to individuals attracted to moth traps. Increasingly, examples are being recorded during the winter and early spring months often from inside buildings in or emerging from a state of hibernation: Swanage, flying at 2:30pm in the pharmaceutical department of Leo's Superstores on 14 December 2004 (R Eden), Blandford Forum, inside a closed-down shop, alive and stuck between the window and the 'To Let' poster on 15 March 1997 (P Davey)

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1985       Daphnis nerii (Linnaeus, 1758) OLEANDER HAWK

A strongly migratory species headquartered south of 40°N and east of 10°E that rarely reaches Britain, the larva feeding on greater periwinkle (Vinca major), lesser periwinkle (Vinca minor), oleander (Nerium oleander) and grape-vine (Vitis vinifera). In Dorset, this fabulously patterned and coloured moth is a very rare visitor indeed, and there is just one record since the large influx (nationally) of 1953. All Dorset records follow: Chickerell, female on 24 September 1900 (Mrs Hew per N Richardson), Portland Harbour, found alive on HMS Implacable on 7 September 1953 (Lt Cmdr L Benson), Shaftesbury, found dead with large hole in back of thorax, likely bird attack 2 August 1950 (Mr Spinney per A Russell), Blandford, (T Jeffreys), Durlston, at MV light on 4 September 2005 (S Nash), Poole, on 13 September 1953 (F Sturgeon), Parkstone, (E Welch, in Bankes collection in Nat Hist Mus), Studland, found dead on 3 September 1919 (H Riviere), Bournemouth, in September 1945 (F Fraser), in early July 1957 (J Wyatt).

1986       Hyles euphorbiae (Linnaeus, 1758) SPURGE HAWK

A species headquartered south of 48°N that very rarely migrates to Britain, the larva feeding on spurge (Euphorbia spp.). The moth is double-brooded in southern Europe, flying in May and June, and again from mid-July to the end of August. In Dorset, the moth has been recorded on two occasions: Canford Cliffs, adult disturbed from privet bush four hundred metres from sea front on 12 July 1908 (W Hooker), Purbeck district, female netted on 21 August 1968 (J Reid).

1987       Hyles gallii (Rottemburg, 1775) BEDSTRAW HAWK

A migratory species headquartered east of 5°E occurring infrequently in eastern England and rarely elsewhere, the larva feeding on bedstraw (Galium spp.) and willowherb (Epilobium spp.). In Dorset, the moth has been recorded about twenty times from late July until early September. Relatively large influxes of Bedstraw Hawk occurred during 1973 and again in 1995 nationally, and many Camberwell Beauty butterflies accompanied them. A north-easterly airflow is usually established when this species appears, and all twentieth century records backtrack to Scandinavia or countries bordering the Baltic.

1990       Hyles livornica (Esper, 1779) STRIPED HAWK

A strongly migratory species headquartered south of 35°N that appears infrequently in southern England and rarely elsewhere, the larva is polyphagous on herbaceous plants. The Striped Hawk does not appear to be able to survive the UK winter in any stage. In Dorset, the moth is an irregular visitor that can appear at any time between February and September. Favoured years have included 1904, 1906, 1931, 1943, 1945, 1985, 1992, 1996, 2003 and 2006. Painted Lady butterflies often accompany Striped Hawks on migration, and a similar source is suspected for both species. Heavy winter rainfall in the usually arid regions of North Africa and associated increased plant growth and hence food sources, may promote increased populations of both species, but veryspecific weather conditions are also needed to bring it to the UK subsequently. A southerly or south-westerly weather pattern is usually established at the onset of influxes to Dorset. Striped Hawks seen in the second half of the year following earlier immigration may be indigenous, but continental sources are just as likely. Instances of migration witnessed both at destination and at source occurred in the spring of 1985 and in the winter of 2004; these involved both the Striped Hawk and the Painted Lady. A record of larvae found during a year when more than five hundred adults were recorded nationally follows: Sherborne, seven larvae on 6 July 1943 (A Harbottle).

1991       Deilephila elpenor (Linnaeus, 1758) ELEPHANT HAWK

A frequent species across much of the British Isles, but local in northern Scotland, the larva feeding on willowherb (Epilobium spp.), balsam (Impatiens spp.), bedstraw (Galium spp.) and fuschia. In Dorset, this stunning moth is frequent across most habitat types apart from on Portland where it is rare, and rises to common in river and fen localities where great willowherb (Epilobium hirsutum) grows in profusion.

1992       Deilephila porcellus (Linnaeus, 1758) SMALL ELEPHANT HAWK

A widespread species found throughout the British Isles, the larva feeding on bedstraw (Galium spp.). In Dorset, the moth frequents two biotypes: the first is unimproved grassland where lady’s bedstraw (Galium verum) abounds on chalky soil both inland and along the Jurassic coast; on optimum sites it is common. The second biotype is heathland and grassland on acid soil in the Poole Basin where heath bedstraw (Galium saxatile) grows; in these habitats it is at low density.

1993       Hippotion celerio (Linnaeus, 1758) SILVER-STRIPED HAWK

A strongly migratory species headquartered south of 30°N and a rare visitor to Britain, the larva feeding on grape-vine (Vitis vinifera), fuschia, willowherb (Epilobium spp.), bedstraw (Galium spp.) and virginia creeper (Parthenocissus spp.). No larvae have been found in the wild in the UK. The adult is fond of nectaring at scented flowers from dusk onwards. In Dorset, the moth has been recorded twenty times, with roughly half of these in the past twenty years and usually during the autumn, mainly coincident with southerly airflows from Iberia and north-west Africa.