Convolvulus Hawk-moth
Agrius convolvuli
Convolvulus Hawk-moth (Agrius convolvuli) — The Hovering Nectar Bandit
Discover the Convolvulus Hawk-moth (Agrius convolvuli), a bold migrant that hovers expertly to drink from long-tubed flowers using its record-breaking proboscis.
- Habitat
- Gardens, coasts, woodlands, farmland edges with bindweed or tubular flowers
- Size
- Wingspan 80–120 mm; larvae up to 9–12 cm
- Diet
- Nectar from deep-tubed flowers; larvae eat bindweed and sweet potato
- Range
- Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, New Zealand; strong migrant
- Conservation
- Widespread and common; not assessed by IUCN
- Wingspan
- 80–120 mm
Habitat & range
This wide-ranging wanderer turns up across Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, and New Zealand, often pushing northward as a summer and autumn migrant. Look for it in gardens, coastal dunes, open woodlands, and farmland edges wherever bindweed or tubular blooms appear. In the UK it arrives as a classic immigrant that cannot overwinter yet shows up in good numbers some years, especially in southern and eastern counties. The moth feels equally at home on a suburban wall or a remote island, proving remarkably unfussy about where it refuels.
Its global footprint makes it one of the most successful hawk-moths on the planet. Strong wings carry individuals across oceans and mountain ranges, sometimes surprising observers as far north as the Shetland Islands. Wherever long-tubed flowers grow, this gray-and-pink visitor is likely to drop by at dusk.
Diet & foraging
Adults are nectar specialists that hover like tiny helicopters, unfurling an absurdly long proboscis often longer than their own bodies. They sip from deep flowers such as tobacco plants, petunias, lilies, and phlox that shorter-tongued insects simply cannot reach. The technique looks like a hummingbird on fast-forward, all rapid wingbeats and precise positioning.
Caterpillars, by contrast, are leaf-munchers focused on the Convolvulaceae family, happily devouring bindweed, morning glories, and sweet potato. In parts of New Zealand and Southeast Asia they occasionally nibble crops, earning the local nickname kumara moth. Both stages play their part in the pollination and plant-herbivore dance that keeps ecosystems humming.
Behavior & adaptations
These moths fly mainly at dusk and through the night, resting by day on tree trunks or walls where their subtle gray patterns provide camouflage. When disturbed they flash vivid pink-and-black abdominal bands, a sudden disco-stripe display meant to startle predators. The long proboscis remains their standout adaptation, granting exclusive access to nectar others miss.
Larvae are surprisingly adventurous hikers, sometimes trekking hundreds of meters across open ground before burrowing underground to pupate. Adults are strongly drawn to light, which can lead them into trouble on roads, yet their powerful flight lets many complete epic migrations. Convolvulus Hawk-moth appears as an Insecta creature card in Wilder TCG.
Ecological role & conservation
As key pollinators, especially in Africa, these moths often serve as the primary or sole visitors to long-tubed native flowers, transferring pollen while they sip. Gardeners and farmers benefit too from their work on various crops and ornamentals that rely on moth pollination. Their presence signals healthy nighttime ecosystems full of tubular blooms.
Conservation status looks secure: the species is widespread and common across its vast range and has not been assessed by the IUCN Red List. In the UK it is simply noted as an immigrant with no special protections required. Continued planting of nectar-rich flowers helps support these impressive migrants wherever they roam.
Fun facts about Convolvulus Hawk-moth
- That proboscis can be longer than the moth’s body—nature’s built-in bendy straw for flowers no one else can reach.
- When threatened, it flashes pink-and-black racing stripes like it’s heading to a moth disco.
- Caterpillars are champion hikers, sometimes trekking hundreds of meters across the ground just to dig their underground pupal chamber.
- In New Zealand it’s called the kumara moth because the larvae happily chow down on sweet potato crops—making it both pollinator hero and occasional veggie villain.
- These strong fliers are serious migrants; one individual might cross oceans or continents, turning up in unexpected places like the Shetland Islands.
Convolvulus Hawk-moth vs Northern Giant Hornet
The Northern Giant Hornet claims victory through predatory instincts and a powerful sting.
At dusk, a hovering Convolvulus Hawk-moth pauses near flowers when a Northern Giant Hornet patrols the same airspace. The hornet, built for hunting other insects, quickly closes in with strong wings and keen vision.
The moth relies on swift flight and its long proboscis for feeding, but lacks any sting or armor. The hornet seizes the chance, gripping the larger moth and delivering a venomous sting that ends the brief tussle.
In open air near meadows, the hornet's aggressive hunting style gives it the edge over the peaceful nectar-feeder.
Insecta · Air · Cost 1
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