giant moth

[markebhoy]

hi, im new on these boards with this being my second post.

just 1 hour ago, i was in my kitchen and turned around to see the biggest moth i have seen in my life flapping at my blinds trying to get out. to say this thing was big is a bit of an understatement, as i have seen smaller birds! its body must have been about 2 inch long, and very stocky, about 1cm thick. anyone have any idea what type of moth this could be as there surely cant be many that grow to such great sizes?

thanks, mark

p.s. i live in the clyde valley in scotland

[GuyF]

Hi Mark, I've just replied to your question in the moth trap thread. The short answer is that it's probably one of the Hawkmoths which are some of our largest moths.
Guy

[markebhoy]

thanks guy. upon closer inspection of pics ive looked at, it may be the 'Convolvulous Hawk-Moth' ( Agrius convolvuli ). although i'm not 100% on that, but out of all the hawk moths its the closest fit. i'll try and get a pic if it shows face again.

[GuyF]

Hi Mark,
A few other moths that may be about that size are Goat Moth, Oak Eggar and Old Lady.
Guy

[Oscar2006]

Originally Posted by markebhoy

thanks guy. upon closer inspection of pics ive looked at, it may be the 'Convolvulous Hawk-Moth' ( Agrius convolvuli ). although i'm not 100% on that, but out of all the hawk moths its the closest fit. i'll try and get a pic if it shows face again.

It was probably a Pine Hawk-moth if it looks like Convolvulus, as the latter are usually migrants seen from the early Autumn onwards.

[Lance Morgan]

My money is on Privet hawkmoth

[markebhoy]

hi, thanks for all the feedback. it made another appearance last night. no photos but i do have a better description. same size as stated earlier, brownish in colour but when it spread its wings, ite centre was an orangey-brown colour with blue flashes at the back of its head. it had pea-sized 'eyes' in the corner tips of its outer wings and rather stocky legs. it had the appearance of having 2 pair of wings, like the Convolvulous Hawk-Moth in this photo(see link), but was not one of these.

Species - Hawk-moths

or

Convolvulous Hawk-Moth - Agrius convolvuli

[Dogghound]

Eyed hawk moth Smerinthus ocellata? Emperor moth Saturnia pavonia?

[Lance Morgan]

Eyes on hind wings = Eyed hawk

[markebhoy]

thanks for the replys, ive had a look at pics of the Eyed hawk and thats not it. the eyes were on the outside of the wing, i.e, the part of the wing furthest from the body, next to the corner of the wings. i wish i'd got some decent photos now, lol, things like this really bug me.