Photo © Mike Wall

Bedstraw Hawk-moth

Hyles gallii

Checklist Number
69.014 [B&F: 1987]

Verification
Record will require further evidence, at least a good photograph, unless CMR is aware recorder has confidence in identification

Classification

Family:Sphingidae
Subfamily:Macroglossinae
Genus:Hyles
Species:gallii
Authority:(Rottemburg, 1775)

Immigrant from southern Europe, appearing almost anywhere in Britain, but mostly in the south and east, in some years arriving in sufficient numbers to breed and perhaps now established in East Anglia. There are scattered records throughout Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, with the most northerly being one at Sherborne St John in August 2003. Wingspan 64-78 mm. The most likely confusion species is Spurge Hawk-moth H. euphorbiae, which see for differences. Larva feeds on Wild Madder, Rosebay Willowherb and various species of bedstraw, perhaps unable to survive cold winters in the United Kingdom.

The abundance in each month is indicated as follows:

No records
Very occasional
Irregular
Uncommon
Off-peak, but not unusual
Off-peak, but not unusual
Main flight time
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Adult
Larval

Records by week (adult)

Records by week (larval)

VC10 Isle of Wight

Site Date Quantity Recorder Stage
Freshwater (SZ38)1859twoMoreAdult
Freshwater (SZ38)14/07/1955oneSam Knill-JonesAdult
Freshwater (SZ38)1956oneRobin Knill-JonesAdult
St Helens (SZ68)02/08/1959oneD W H FfennellAdult
Combley Great Wood (SZ58)03/08/1981oneClouterAdult
nr Sandown Pier (SZ58)01/09/1991oneM BuckleyAdult
Bonchurch (SZ57)18/08/2010oneJames HalseyAdult
Brook Down (SZ38)25/07/2012oneMark HallettAdult
Bonchurch (SZ57)27/08/2013oneJames HalseyAdult
Ryde (SZ59)18/08/2014oneS LuckettLarval
Ryde (SZ59)18/08/2014oneSteve LuckettLarval
Sandown (SZ68)15/07/2021oneSue RittmanAdult

VC11 South Hampshire

Site Date Quantity Recorder Stage
Burley, NF (SU20)30/07/1937oneC W Mackworth-PraedAdult
Southsea (SZ69)06/07/1945-SperringLarval
Rowlands Castle (SU71)12/07/1955oneF C StanleyAdult
Fordingbridge (SU11)14/08/1955oneCW Mackworth-PraedAdult
Brockenhurst (SU20)24/07/1956oneMaggsAdult
Rhinefield, NF (SU20)01/08/1973twoG J NixonLarval
Boldre, NF (SZ39)01/08/1973oneH G M MiddletonAdult
Minstead (SU21)01/08/1973oneL W SiggsAdult
Botley Wood (SU50)01/08/1973oneC J LuckensAdult
Fareham (SU50)01/08/1983oneC J LuckensAdult
Brockenhurst (SU20)03/04/1985oneRusswormAdult
Lymington (SZ39)06/04/1985oneTony PicklesAdult
Chandlers Ford (SU42)30/06/1995oneBarry GoaterAdult
Southsea (SZ69)20/07/1997oneJ R LangmaidAdult
Southampton (SU41)15/06/2003oneUnknownAdult
Bishopstoke (SU42)14/07/2004onePeter W HooperAdult
Totton (SU31)01/08/200520Margaret TryhornLarval
Titchfield Haven NNR (SU50)16/08/2006oneBarry DuffinAdult
Sholing (SU41)10/09/2006-Andy CollinsAdult
Winchester (SU42)31/08/2012twoChris PinesLarval
Horsea Island (SU60)03/09/2013oneFareham Moth GroupAdult
Southsea (SZ69)27/07/2014oneJ R LangmaidAdult
Fareham (SU50)05/08/2014oneKeith WheelerAdult
Sandy Point (SZ79)13/08/2018oneAndy JohnsonAdult
Sway (SZ29)10/09/2020oneSheila & Steve LankesterAdult
Itchen Valley CP (SU41)16/07/2021oneChris ThainAdult
Gosport (SZ69)26/07/2021oneUnknownAdult

VC12 North Hampshire

Site Date Quantity Recorder Stage
Farringdon (SU73)11/08/1952oneH S RobinsonAdult
Whitehill (SU73)30/07/1955oneD WrightAdult
Micheldever (SU54)18/08/1955oneCH DixonAdult
Farringdon (SU73)21/07/1961oneE A SadlerAdult
Northwood (SU43)16/07/1983oneReg A BellAdult
East Stratton (SU54)08/06/1992oneBrian Ivon-JonesAdult
Odiham Common (SU75)27/06/1995oneTony DavisAdult
Sherborne St John (SU65)04/08/2003oneNick MontegriffoAdult
Alresford (SU53)10/07/2009oneWinston ChurchillAdult
Basingstoke (SU54)26/08/2013oneGlyn HenwoodAdult
Chilbolton (SU33)31/05/2014oneGlynne EvansAdult
Cheriton (SU52)26/07/2014oneDave ShuteAdult