Poplar hawkmoth
At rest it holds its hindwings forward of the forewings so its outline looks reversed, and if disturbed it flashes hidden rufous patches on the hindwings.
| Where | Woodland, parks, and gardens |
|---|---|
| Size | 65 to 90 mm wingspan |
| When | May to August |
The poplar hawkmoth is a bulky greyish brown moth with a scalloped wing edge, resting with its hindwings pushed forward of the forewings so the wing outline appears reversed. A rufous patch on the hindwing, normally hidden, can be flashed if the moth is disturbed.
Caterpillars feed on poplar, aspen, and willow leaves through summer, and the single generation of adults flies from late spring into midsummer, occasionally producing a partial second generation further south in its range.
Traits
Habitat
Woodland
Colour
Brown, Grey
Active
Night
To people
Harmless to people; adults do not feed and live on fat reserves from the caterpillar stage.
Activity through the year
Often confused with
The eyed hawkmoth is a similar size at 70 to 80 mm but reveals blue and black eyespots on the hindwings when disturbed, rather than the plain rufous patch of the poplar hawkmoth.
Questions
Is the Poplar hawkmoth dangerous to people?
Harmless to people; adults do not feed and live on fat reserves from the caterpillar stage.
When can you see the Poplar hawkmoth?
The Poplar hawkmoth can be seen from May to August, at night.
Plate retouched from a photo by Didier Descouens, CC BY‑SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons Licence
The plate on this page is shared under the same licence as its source, CC BY-SA.
Report a mistake in this entry
Butterflies and moths›Hawk moths›Laothoe
Last updated 2026-09-26. Every entry is checked against published sources.