The Moths of May

Late May is an exciting time for moths in Southern Norway. During three nights with the light trap in optimal weather conditions at my summer house by the Oslo fjord in Vestfold county, I had the chance to study incredibly colorful Hawkmoths and other early summer fliers.

Small Elephant Hawk-moth (Deilephila porcellus)Liten snabelsvermer

Small Elephant Hawk-moth (Deilephila porcellus)Liten snabelsvermer

Portrait of Small Elephant Hawk-moth (Deilephila porcellus)Liten snabelsvermer

Small Elephant Hawk-moth (Deilephila porcellus) in Lilac shrub.
Liten snabelsvermer

Elephant Hawk-moth (Deilephila elpenor)Stor snabelsvermer

The catch of one night put together:
five Small Elephant Hawk-moths (Deilephila porcellus) and two Elephant Hawk-moths (Deilephila elpenor)
Fem små snabelsvermere og to store.

The Eyed Hawk-moth (Smerinthus ocellata) flashes its bright blue «eyes»
when disturbed.
Kveldpåfugløye

I found this mating couple of Eyed Hawk-moths (Smerinthus ocellata)
just outside my porch!
Kveldpåfugløye

Fox Moth (Macrothylacia rubi)
Bringebærspinner

Chocolate-tip (Clostera curtula)
Rødflekkstjertspinner

The fantastic camouflaged Pale Prominent (Pterostoma palpina)
Nebbspinner

Scorched Wing (Plagodis dolabraria)
Smal skumringsmåler

White Ermine (Spilosoma lubricipeda)
Punkttigerspinner

The Shears (Hada plebeja)
Gulflekkfly