Lime Hawk-moths

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Scientific name:  Mimas tiliae

Size:  Wingspan up to 80mm

Distribution:  Found in England (mostly in the south) and Wales.  Absent from Scotland and Ireland

Months seen:  May and June

Life span:  Adult moths can live for up to 5 weeks

Habitat:  As the name suggests they are normally found close to lime trees.  Frequently found in gardens

Food:  Does not feed as an adult moth.  The yellow-green coloured caterpillars feed at night on lime tree leaves

Special features:  Adult Lime Hawk-moths vary in colour from light pink to red-brown with a darker patch in the centre of each forewing.  This varies in size and colour from olive-green to brown.  The wings of Lime Hawk-moths have a distinctive ragged cutout on the tail edge which help them to stay hidden amongst foliage.

The larvae of Lime Hawk-moths, which can be found from June to September, are also variable in colour.  When they first hatch they are green with oblique yellow stripes along each side.  There is also red-brown horn at the tail end.  As they mature they become a pinkish-grey or a bluish-grey with a bright blue horn.  Just before pupation they turn a purple colour.

Related Pages

• UK Safari Moth Section
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