What is this beast?

Cliecost

I found this moth attached to my kids picnic table. Been there for a few days just clinging on and doing nothing...

What kind of moth is it?

(This is a kids picnic table so the moth isn't as big at it seems)

poorly_scammo

Poplar Hawkmoth

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:British_Moths_-_Poplar_Hawkmoth_-_Laothoe_populi_2.jpg

http://www.uksafari.com/poplarhawkmoths.htm

Cliecost

poorly_scammo wrote: »

Poplar Hawkmoth

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:British_Moths_-_Poplar_Hawkmoth_-_Laothoe_populi_2.jpg

http://www.uksafari.com/poplarhawkmoths.htm

That looks nothing like this one. That one is huge and had smooth formed wings.

This one looks like a flying leaf.

jpscloud

I'd agree with Poorly, certainly looks like a poplar hawk moth to me - pictures are sometimes misleading.


This year I've dipped into moth identification a bit and I'm amazed at how moths rarely look exactly like pictures of them!


They can also come in different colour variations just to confuse the issue.

Cliecost

jpscloud wrote: »

I'd agree with Poorly, certainly looks like a poplar hawk moth to me - pictures are sometimes misleading.


This year I've dipped into moth identification a bit and I'm amazed at how moths rarely look exactly like pictures of them!


They can also come in different colour variations just to confuse the issue.

Well in the pro photo it looks like it had normal wings with smooth curves and straight edges, whereas the one that is still in my shed looks like a leaf with legs.

peachyprice

It looks like the first moth in this linky or maybe No.6

http://ukmoths.org.uk/top20.php

ember2001

naturespot.org.uk/species/burnished-brass

Leaf with legs?

Cliecost

peachyprice wrote: »

It looks like the first moth in this linky or maybe No.6

http://ukmoths.org.uk/top20.php

It does look like that actually!