Deilephila porcellus (Linnaeus, 1758)

Host plants:
The caterpillars feed on Galium species, especially Galium verum and Galium album (G. mollugo agg.). This species does hardly oviposit on Epilobium or other plants which stands in contrast to Deilephila elpenor.

Habitat:
Deilephila porcellus occurs in nutrient-poor grasslands of all kinds, road side verges, pastures, not too wet fens, embankments and formerly also in meager agricultural meadows (which have now almost disappeared). The larva can also be observed in nature gardens, but much rarer than Deilephila elpenor.

Life cycle:
The moth is on the wing in one or, more rarely, two generations between May and August. The pupa overwinters. I found caterpillars from June to September. In the last instar the brown larvae live quite hidden at daytime. Freshly emerged adults can be observed regularly in grasslands from May to July.

Endangerment factors:
In areas without large nutrient-poor grasslands this species is endangered due to intensification in agricultural meadows and excessive exploitation of even smallest remaining areas.

Remarks:
Deilephila porcellus is distributed from Northwest Africa across large parts of Europe (except Central and Northern Scandinavia) to China.