Sussex Moth Group: Laothoe populi

Laothoe populi (Linnaeus, 1758)

Poplar Hawk-moth
69.0030 (B&F: 1981)

»Suborder: Glossata
  »Superfamily: Bombycoidea
    »Family: Sphingidae
      »Subfamily: Smerinthinae
        »Tribe: Smerinthini

Number of records: 9,664
Recorded in: 585 1km grid squares
Date of most recent record: 01 ix 2024

Identification
difficulty

: 1Species that can be relatively easily identified even by inexperienced recorders with the use of up-to-date field guides. Such records would be accepted without the need for additional evidence as long as they conform to the normal flight period and geographical range of the species.

A resident moth which often occurs sparingly or fairly commonly at mv light in a wide range of habitats, and it is sometimes common in parts of the north of the county. Probably generally distributed with high numbers being local. Generally single-brooded with fresh examples having been recorded every week from mid April to mid September, with two distinct waves which peak during the first week of June and again in mid July. Larvae feed on goat willow, grey willow, aspen, poplars, sallows and occasionally beech. (Pratt, 2011)