www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

Hi all

Some of you may have read the post below, it seems like my interest in butterflies may have sparked some interest in the Gite owners as they have sent me the below. My tentative ID of the adult stage was Eyed Hawkmoth (Smerinthus ocellata) but none of the photos I've seen of that have eyes on the forewing which these appear to have. Quite an impressive moth whatever it is, I wish it had been around when we were there. And is the larva related at all? Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance

Bill

It looks like an Emperor Moth (Saturnia pavonia) http://www.butterfly-conservation.org/M ... s=&Family=

Wowee! Definitely Giant Peacock moth (Saturnia pyri) on both counts - adult and larva!

Looks like you made an impression, Bill

Cheers,

- Pete

Pete Eeles wrote:Wowee! Definitely Giant Peacock moth (Saturnia pyri) on both counts - adult and larva!

Looks like you made an impression, Bill

Cheers,

- Pete

Thanks both, the owner is not going to be impressed when I show him the list of host foodplants. He was already worried that this fellow might discover their walnut trees after finishing off the cobnuts.
Scroll down for the hostplant list!!!

http://tpittaway.tripod.com/silk/s_pyr.htm

Bill