Unusual Sighting: Woman Observes Uncommon Creature in Backyard
In the quaint town of Seibranz, a resident made an unexpected discovery in her fuchsia plants - a large, striking caterpillar that turned out to be the caterpillar of the Middle Vine Hawk Moth (Deilephila elpenor).
The find is not everyday, as the Middle Vine Hawk Moth caterpillar, once much more common, is now less frequent. This elusive creature can be found on various willowherb species, vine, evening primrose, and fuchsia, especially when they are almost fully grown.
The caterpillar, which can grow up to eight centimeters long, is easily recognizable by its eye spots on its head and the horn at the rear end. It's also known for its voracious appetite, capable of devouring entire parks and gardens. Her fuchsias, now just skeletons, suggest the caterpillar found was quite tasty.
Martin Feucht, specialist advisor of the Nature Conservation Association (NABU) Baden-Württemberg, has not been able to find the hawk moth this year. Several neighbours also visited and were amazed by the caterpillar.
The reader, who has never seen such a caterpillar before, sent two photos of the find to the editorial team. Interestingly, the Large Vine Hawk Moth caterpillar, which can grow up to nine centimeters long, also resides in Germany, albeit less frequently.
The Large Vine Hawk Moth, unlike the Middle Vine Hawk Moth, is not as common and is more difficult to discover due to its secretive lifestyle. It inhabits Southern Europe and only rarely wanders to Germany. In the Algarve, the Large Vine Hawk Moth can be admired very frequently in the evening.
Despite its rarity, the Middle Vine Hawk Moth remains one of the most common native hawk moth species in Germany, although it's not as widespread as it was 30 years ago. In the Alpine region, such as in the Little Walsertal and in Upper Swabia, the Middle Vine Hawk Moth is more common than in the rest of Baden-Württemberg.
The Large Vine Hawk Moth, the Small Vine Hawk Moth, and the Middle Vine Hawk Moth are all native to Germany. Moths of the Middle Vine Hawk Moth emerge in June. The discovery of a caterpillar, whether it's a Middle or Large Vine Hawk Moth, is always an alarming sight due to their appetite for vegetation. However, these rare sightings serve as a reminder of the diverse and fascinating wildlife that can be found in our gardens and parks.
