Large hawk moth discovery in China

This is a Langia zenzeroides video.

From Xinhua news agency in China:

Hawk moth found in Sichuan is largest ever discovered

2015-05-13 09:35 (GMT+8)

A hawk moth found in a mountainous area in the southwest province of Sichuan is believed to be the largest of its species ever discovered, local experts said Monday.

Zhao Li, head of the Insect Museum of West China in the provincial capital Chengdu, said the hawk moth was discovered by a team from the museum during an expedition to Qingcheng Mountain. The moth’s wingspan is 17.5 centimeters long. Previously, the largest hawk moth found had a wingspan of 15.6 centimeters.

The newly discovered hawk moth belongs to the species of Langia zenzeroides, the largest hawk moth species. Wing spans of L. zenzeroides are generally 12 to 15 centimeters long.

According to Zhao, these moths usually live in northern India, northern Thailand, northern Vietnam, as well as southern and eastern China. They have been known to take up residence in mountainous areas with an altitude of 1,000-2,000 meters in western Sichuan province in April and May.

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