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Mature Convolvulus hawk-moth (Agrius convolvuli) larvae at Ford village, near Aylesbury, Bucks

Roger Kemp

On Friday, 2nd October 1998 I was tidying up waste ground on the farm when I noticed a nearly full-grown Convolvulus hawk-moth (Agrius convolvuli) larva resting on its foodplant Hedge bindweed (Calystegia sepium) growing up a telegraph pole support. The colour of the larva (Plate 1) was similar to that illustrated in Porter's book.

Photo of the normal form of the larvae

Plate 1 - Normal form of the larvae

Further search revealed a second one only a few feet away from the first but smaller and much darker in colour (Plate 2). Wild larvae of this species are rarely found in the wild in Britain, especially so far inland, and it is said they seldom reach maturity. These two could be the rare exceptions!

Photo of the dark form of the larvae

Plate 2 - Dark form of the larvae

References

Porter, J. (1996). The Colour Identification Guide to Caterpillars of the British Isles p.72.

Carter, DJ. and Hargreaves. B. (1986). A Field Guide to Caterpillars and Butterflies and Moths in Britain and Europe p.117

Originally published in the Volume 57 of the Bulletin of the Amateur Entomologists' Society.

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