Species Details

ABH: 69.002

BF: 1980

Family: Sphingidae

Subfamily: Smerinthinae

Taxon: Smerinthus ocellata

Authority: (Linnaeus, 1758)

Vernacular: Eyed Hawk-moth

Account: Common in gardens, orchards, parks, fens, scrub and woodland throughout England and Wales. Larva feeds on most species of Salix and Malus, over-wintering as a pupa.

Accounts provided by and used with the kind permission of Mike Wall, Hampshire County Moth Recorder. These will in due course be gradually replaced with species accounts with a Surrey context.

Wingspan: 75 — 95 mm

Surrey Flight Period: 27 Apr (2007) — 29 Jul (1939)

The flight period of overwintering adults are not given. See the flight chart below the distribution map.

Foodplant: Malus sp. (an apple), Salix sp. (a sallow).

Foodplant accounts are from the HOSTS database — Natural History Museum, London, UK. (CC0).

Status: Least Concern (LC)

UK BAP:

WCA:

Click here to view the full geology map of Surrey.

Verification Grade: 1 — Relatively easily identified 👌

Further Information: https://www.ukmoths.org.uk/species/smerinthus-ocellata/

Statistics

* Based on adult records only.

Records: 406

Individuals: 60

Earliest Year: 1859

Latest Year: 2025

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