Laothoe amurensis

Description

Laothoe amurensis, the aspen hawk-moth, is a moth of the family Sphingidae. It is found in the northern part of the Palearctic ecozone. It flies in May and can be found only in far-eastern Europe, including parts of Poland, Finland, Ukraine and Belarus. It exists also in Asia as few another subspecies. In spite of being very rare, it is not protected, e.g. in Poland. There are known few places where obtaining this moth by attracting to light is possible. The wingspan is 71–98 mm. Very similar to Laothoe populi, a common European moth found everywhere, but bigger and much darker. Eggs laid singly or in small groups of two to four. Eggs are laid on the underside of leaves. The larvae feed singly on Populus tremula and willow. They are green with seven pale stripes, and look like L. populi caterpillars, but, opposite to it, have two or three little "horns" above their head. It is difficult to distinguish. This moth spends winter as chrysalid in the soil.