Poplar hawkmoth

The poplar hawkmoth is a large (wingspan 70–100 mm (2.8–3.9 in)), odd-looking species of moth, due to its habit of resting with its hindwings held further forward than (but still half hidden by) the forewings. The species lacks a frenulum joining the wings together, and is said to look like a cluster of dead leaves of the main host, poplar.

When disturbed, the moth will suddenly reveal a bright orange-red basal patch on the hindwing, possibly as a distraction or startle display. The wings are grey marked with darker grey fascia but with the greys occasionally replaced by buffish tones, a form more frequent among females than males. There is a white spot at the distal edge of the cell on the forewings.

Gynandromorphs, half female and half male, are common.^[2]

Poplar hawkmoths have been known to produce a hybrid when mated with the eyed hawkmoth, Smerinthus ocellatus; the hybrid has eyes on the hindwings.^[3]

One or two broods are produced each year and adults can be seen from May to August.^[4] The moth lays eggs which are large, spherical, pale green, and glossy. These are laid singly or in pairs on the underside of leaves of the host plant.^[2] Females lay around 50 to 200 eggs.^[5] On first hatching the larva (or "hornworm") is pale green with small yellow tubercles and a cream-coloured tail horn. Later, it develops yellow diagonal stripes on its sides, and pink spiracles. Individuals feeding on willows may become quite heavily spotted with red. Others are more bluish white with cream stripes and tubercules. They are stout bodied, and grow to 65–85 mm (2.6–3.3 in).^[2] The larva has a diet of tree leaves such as poplar, willow and aspen.^[6]

The species overwinters as a pupa,^[4] the larva pupating in an earthen cell 2–3 cm (0.79–1.18 in) below the surface, near its host plant. It has a short cremaster.^[2] The poplar hawkmoth lives for a few weeks as an adult,^[7] during which it does not feed, instead relying on fat built up during the larval stage.^[6] Although they emerge late at night or early in the morning, the moth flies starting from the second night and is strongly attracted to light.^{[citation needed]}

The poplar hawkmoth feeds mainly on poplar and aspen, but sometimes on willow, alder, apple, tomato, birch, elm, oak and ash. The food source used by the moth often depends on location.^[2]

• Laothoe populi populi
• Laothoe populi lappona (Rangnow, 1935)

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  A male poplar hawkmoth, viewed from the back
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  A male poplar hawkmoth, viewed from the front
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  A female poplar hawkmoth, viewed from the back
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  A female poplar hawkmoth, viewed from the front
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  A gynandromorph poplar hawkmoth, viewed from the back
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  A gynandromorph poplar hawkmoth, viewed from the front

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  Mating pair showing both colour variants
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  Larva
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  Showing hindwing held forward of forewing
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  Imago, showing orange-red basal patch on hindwing
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  Imago, lateral view