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Elephant Hawk Moth Caterpillar


Elephant Hawk Moth Caterpillar
Photo Information
Copyright: Siegfried Potrykus (siggi) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1630 W: 59 N: 5613] (19396)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2009-07
Categories: Insects
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2009-07-19 1:08
Viewed: 1882
Points: 60
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
The species is found throughout Britain and Ireland except for the north and east of Scotland, and its range extends across Europe, Russia, and into China, northern parts of the Indian subcontinent, Japan and Korea (though not Taiwan). Introduced specimens have been found in British Columbia. In most of their range, the adults are seen from May to July and the caterpillars from July to September, when they pupate. However in some parts of the Mediterranean and China the adults may be seen from April on, sometimes having two broods in a year.
Caterpillar in "elephant" pose
Caterpillar in "snake" pose
The larva is about 75mm long, green and brown in colour. Like most hawk moth caterpillars, they have a backward curving spine or "horn" on the final abdominal segment. The anterior of the caterpillar appears to have the shape of a trunk-like snout. It is this elephant look, rather than its large size, that gives the moth its name. When startled, the caterpillar draws its trunk into its foremost body segment. This posture resembles a snake with a large head and four large eye-like patches. Caterpillars are preyed upon by birds, but these shy away (at least for some time) from caterpillars in "snake" pose. It is not known whether the birds take the caterpillar to actually resemble a snake, or are frightened by the sudden change of a familiar prey item into an unusual and boldly-patterned shape (Stevens 2005).

The preferred food plants of the caterpillar are willowherb and bedstraw, though it will also take fuchsias.
The imago (adult) tends to feed in the evening, and often takes nectar from garden plants like honeysuckles and petunias, so it is quite often seen in urban settings. The moth has a wing span typically between 50 and 70 mm. It is spectacularly coloured, seeming to shimmer with green and red when in motion. The adult moths are eaten by some species of bats.
Two subspecies, Deilephila elpenor elpenor and Deilephila elpenor lewisii, were recognised in the past, but they are no longer regarded as well distinguished. Similarly the subspecies Deilephila elpenor szechuana is now thought to be a synonym for Deilephila elpenor elpenor. The subspecies Deilephila elpenor macromera, found in southern China, northern India, Bhutan and Myanmar, is still regarded as distinct.
The related species, the Small Elephant Hawk-moth (Deilephila porcellus) and Chitral Elephant Hawk-moth (Deilephila rivularis) are similar but smaller and less colourful.(Wikipedia)
horias, boreocypriensis, parasbhalla, thor68, jlinaresp, anel, cloud, cirano, Mrajan, goldyrs, Silvio2006, nglen, jaycee, maurydv, eqshannon, Noisette, valy67, Miss_Piggy has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Hello Siegfried,
What great and wonderful capture today.
I never see one like this. Its lovely, and indeed...the name is very well done. Congratulation!!!
Horia

Ahhh... what a pose of this caterpillar MF:) Lovely curled like a dog:). Perfect capture in all around MF!
TFS and have a nice day!
Bayram

  • Great 
  • lousat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 2204 W: 8 N: 6094] (21500)
  • [2009-07-19 1:45]

Hi Siggi,a very different and fantastic work! What a impressive macro and what a interesting caterpillar.The position too is different and unusual.Wonderful idea and perfect macro.My best compliments,have a nice Sunday,Luciano.

Hallo Siegfried,

Wonderful marco shot of such an interesting caterpillar. It is just amazing!
Well controlled sharpness and the great position of the caterpillar, makes your picture really attractive. An intersting theme indeed.

Very well done!

Thanks and regards,
Paras Bhalla

Hello Siegfried ,

Fantastic photo of this interesting specie.
Lighting and definition are excellent.
Good note.

oops, that is a caterpillar?! wow, amazing close-up, from the thumbnail i thought it looked like a rolled up python.*g*
excellent capture with nice details. now i have to check out how the moth will look like, i guess it is the pretty pink one.
well done & have a great sunday, thor.

Hello Siegfried,

Pose of this interesting caterpillar, very good colors and contrast is very balanced. Good work of focus, somewhat difficult due to the corner.

Good work, is a very special photo!

Its caterpillar, like a dog!

Jesus

  • Great 
  • anel Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1863 W: 0 N: 4298] (17170)
  • [2009-07-19 4:50]

Guten Tag Siegfried,
Sehr schönes und originelles Bild! Gut abgelichtet, man versteht hier gut, woher sein Name kommt. Einfache und schöne Komposition. Gut gemacht.
Herzlich grüsst
Anne

  • Great 
  • cloud Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 322 W: 73 N: 810] (5112)
  • [2009-07-19 4:59]

Witaj Siggi,
Co za stworzenie, szkoda ze nie doostrzone ale prezentuje sie wspaniale. Dobry pomysl.
Pozdrawiam, Pawel

Slav Sîggî,
Wonderful marco shot of this different and interesting caterpillar with in the nice pose.Very well composed.Thanks for sharing.
Regards.
Dûrzan

  • Great 
  • zetu Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 826 W: 24 N: 2203] (8499)
  • [2009-07-19 5:54]

Hello Siegfried
Nice macro shot, excellent details and clear BG
Well done
Regards
Razvan

Hallo...
Wooww...Excellent pose with perfect details....
Very interesting capture...TFS.
Regards
Leyla

What a grt artist , nature is ! amazing!!!!
and special thanks to u for capturing such clear sharp well composed image. Thanks

hello Siegfried
great shot with super details of the caterpillar
beautiful shot!!
greeting lou

An excellent shot, Siggi!
The note is superb, too!
Excellent overall presentation!
Goldy

Ciao Siggi, great capture of fantastic caterpillar, splendid details and excellent sharpness, very well done, ciao Silvio

Great capture my friend Siegfried. You've choised a winner POV in perfect details. Well done.

Roberto

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3120 W: 34 N: 9199] (34122)
  • [2009-07-19 13:09]

Hi Siegfried . We had one in the garden last year i scared the life out of my wife. I think they are fantastic. I think its the size, You have taken this one with good detail and natural colours. Well done TFs.
Nick..

Excelente documento Siegfried, donde has conseguido pasmar bien los volúmenes.
Buena semana: Josep Ignasi.

Hello Siegfried!
amazing caterpillar and strange pose...
good details and definition

best sERGIO

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2683 W: 11 N: 7301] (23103)
  • [2009-07-19 16:16]

Hi Siggi,

This is a winner! I have never seen a caterpillar curled up like this before and this is a new one for me. An outstanding macro with marvelous colors, shadings and details. It deserves an extra big smiley.

Jane

Hello Siegfried,
a superb macro shot of this caterpillar, very good details and beautiful natural colours.
TFS
Best regards
Maurizio

Hi Siggi

Excellent shot of this monster caterpillar.
Great pose, excellent sharpness and details.

Chris

Possibly a first for TN unless perhaps one of our good Turkish friends may have done one..I do not remember...VERY close in with shallow DOF yet an interesting image in patterns of nature..and of course making it a whole lesson with the notes!
Bob

Hallo Siggi
Très beau spécimen
on pourrait penser à une rondelle de caoutchouc
Mais très belle...
Amicalement
Laurent

Hello Siegfried
beautiful caterpillar taken a great pose, stunning details, wonderful colors, i like green BG very much
A splendid close-up shot !
Have agood night
Jacqueline

  • Great 
  • valy67 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1888 W: 59 N: 2945] (8819)
  • [2009-07-20 23:07]

Hello Siegfried !
What an impressive picture of this moth caterpillar ! I have seen it once, but never managed to get such a great picture - I love everything here, the details, the colors, the composition, the pose of the moth, curled around herself... I also like the false "eyes" on the back, when I see the caterpillar they really do look like real eyes ! :-) Very well done !
Valérie.

  • Great 
  • foozi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1536 W: 0 N: 2926] (10163)
  • [2009-07-21 3:50]

Hi Siegfried,
wow..what a monstrous look.
Very beautifully captured in excellent close up.
Very special and superb collection.

Regards,
Foozi

Witaj Siegfried,
What bite. Mniam mniam. Aves would say so. For me then photographic bite. It is pretty and such pleasant. I Congratulate very curious picture!
Pozdrawiam - Roma

Hello Siegfried,
Lovely capture of this moth. Its very differetn. I had not seen anything like that before. Very nice macro. Welll DOne!

TFS,
Kedar

Hallo Sigfried
This is such a lovely plumpish caterpillar and it looks as if is having a cosy curl up just like a puppy when it is having a snooze. The texture of the skin and the patterns and markings are displayed well and is very interesting to look at. Great to look at it from so close by. I like the shades of green, including the olive colour of the skin. Thanks for sharing. Kind regards.
Anna

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