The elephant hawk-moth is a pretty, gold-and-pink moth that can be seen at dusk in gardens, parks, woods and grassy habitats.

The caterpillars look like elephant’s trunks and have eyespots to scare off predators.

The caterpillars feed on willowherbs, fuchsia and bedstraw, and the adults feed on nectar. The caterpillars overwinter as chrysalides, hidden among low vegetation or in the soil.

The striking elephant hawk-moth is mainly golden-olive with bright pink bars on the wings and body. The similar small elephant hawk-moth is smaller, yellower and less common; it is found in short grassland.