Convolvulus Hawk Moth

Convolvulus Hawk Moth Agrius convolvuli. A few years ago I came across this wonderful specimen at my front door feeding on Honeysuckle, a female in perfect condition. I captured her for a few days in the hope of finding bindweed, should she had started to lay eggs. A forlorn hope. The plants were dying off but I do now know where to find small stands of bindweed all over North Fife.

A large species, with a wingspan of over 10cm, this is a migrant in Britain, appearing sometimes in fairly good numbers.
It most often occurs in late summer and autumn, usually with influxes of other migrant species, when it turns up in light traps and feeding at garden flowers, especially those of the tobacco plant (Nicotiana)
Although larvae are sometimes found in Britain, usually on bindweed (Convolvulus), it does not regularly breed.

Bindweed, Convolvulus arvensis (Field Bindweed) is a species of bindweed, native to Europe and Asia. It is a climbing or creeping herbaceous perennial plant found occasionally in north Fife where it is not invasive. It has beautiful soft white trumpet flowers, a joy to see on the roadside passing at this time of the year and will continue to flower right through September. A relative of Morning Glory which is rich blue with five radiating magenta petal markings.

Bindweed.
One of the weeds discussed in the Weed Book below.

Weeds: How vagabond plants gatecrashed civilisation and changed the way we think about nature [Hardcover]
A lively and lyrical cultural history of plants in the wrong place, by one of Britain’s best and most admired nature writers.
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'Mabey offers a diversity and richness of fact, fiction, philosophy and fun ... a great read.'
--Professor Stephen Hopper, Director, Kew Gardens
'Richard Mabey's journey through the realm of weeds is witty, learned and original.' -- Ronald Blythe.
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Order Now, Published 14th October. Weeds: How vagabond plants gatecrashed civilisation and changed the way we think about nature