Sent when ready during September or October, but sometimes before. An absolutely fantastic hawk moth that should be bred at least once by all enthusiasts. The adults are large, very powerful and have a life-like skull and crossbones pattern on the thorax. They also emit a loud squeak when disturbed! The larvae grow to an enormous size and consume large amounts of food in the last instar - be prepared! Best fed on privet in captivity, they will also take potato, deadly nightshade, buddliea and other related plants. Once thought very difficult to pair, many have now succeeded.
Larval foodplants: privet (ligustrum); potato (solanum tuberosum); deadly night shade (atropina belladona); buddlia (buddliea davidii).
Rearing: plastic boxes; vivariums; cylinder type cages; ventilated cages and sleeves in warm conditions and climates.
Photographs: 5th instar larvae (brown form).
