Wednesday, 11 January 2017

Broad-bordered Bee Hawk-moth

The Broad-bordered Bee Hawk-moth is a day flying insect and, can be seen between  the beginning of May through to the end of June, and is mainly found in sunny woodland rides.

You can quite often find this beautiful Moth feeding on Bugle, [that grow in damp areas, woods, meadows etc.] one of it's favourite flowers for nectar.

Broad-bordered Bee Hawk-moth feeding on Bugle
[photo taken 4th May]
 The females lay their eggs [ovum] on the undersides of Honeysuckle leaves and, are easy to find.

Freshly laid egg on the underside of a Honeysuckle leaf
[photo taken 30th May]
When the tiny larva  hatch they feed and rest on the back of the Honeysuckle leaf, until they become much larger when they are far more conspicuous.

A newly emerged 1st instar Broad-bordered Bee Hawk-moth larva
[photo taken 5th July]
A 1st instar larva
[photo taken 18th may]
A 1st instar larva ready to make its first moult
[photo taken 19th May]
Late 2nd instar larva
[photo taken 3rd July]
   
All photographs are the copyright of Nick Broomer
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2 comments:

  1. Ornithologeek30 January 2017 at 08:48

    Do you find all of these ovum wild or from captive bred adults?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Unknown2 February 2017 at 09:59

      Hi Edward, I find them all in the Wild, normally from watching the insects ovipositing.

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