Eyed Hawk-moth

This is an Eyed Hawk-moth (Smerinthus ocellata) which I caught in the moth trap last night. They expose the pinkish "eyes" on their hindwings when they are disturbed, which is intended to deter predators and this moth is partially showing his (the bits with blue edges).

Moths vibrate their wings when they wake up to warm up ready for flight which made photographing this quite tricky and is why he is still resting on the egg tray from the trap.

Eyed Hawk-moth caterpillars feed on various willows, some apple trees and occasionally poplar and aspen. They are resident and common in lowland England and Wales - as far north as Cumbria, and can be found in gardens, parks, riversides, fens and woodlands (almost anywhere willows grow). They are very rarely found in Scotland.