Elephant Hawk Moth

Deilephila elpenor, the Elephant Hawk Moth or large elephant hawk moth, is a moth in the family Sphingidae. Its common name is derived from the caterpillar's resemblance to an elephant's trunk. It is distributed all over the Palearctic region, with central Europe being its most prevalent location. The Canadian province of British Columbia has also adopted it. It is one of the most recognizable moths in its region thanks to its distinctive olive and pink coloring. However, the little elephant hawk moth, a closely related species that also have distinctive colors, can be mistaken for the elephant hawk moth rather easily.

It is one of the most colorful moths that can mostly see in bronzy green with pink stripes. They can range in various sizes, but their wings span can range between 45mm and 70mm. Due to their nocturnal nature, these moths consume flowers that bloom or produce nectar at night. The elephant hawk moth was one of the first species in which nocturnal color vision in animals was recorded because of its extremely sensitive eyes, which enable it to perceive color even in low light.