Hawk moth season!

I have been moth trapping the last few nights, and Hawk moth season has really kicked in! 
I love this family of huge and fast flying moths and I am always excited every year when I start to catch them again.
This is the Lime hawkmoth Mimas tiliae, a common southern species that is spreading further north. It flies early in the season, and comes readily to light.
I think it must get it's common name from it's beautiful subtle shades of green, and is one of my favorite hawk moths. I liked this shot as it shows the way they always sit with the green furry abdomen curled, I have added a more conventional shot of another individual in my extras.