General comments:
Widespread and common in Hertfordshire in which area it has spread to new areas and become more numerically abundant since the 1990s. However, in Middlesex it was, and seems to have remained, a very local and scarce species.

Hertfordshire Notes:
From Plant (2008): Although a commonly encountered moth today, the Privet Hawk-moth was formerly more local in its distribution. An increase in reports is noted from the late 1990s onwards with many older observers expressing surprise at finding it at various sites; the increase has been greatest in the north and east and there are significantly less reports from the south-west of the county in spite of more or less even survey effort. Although we have insufficient historical data to confirm the supposition, this population fluctuation appears unlikely to be an isolated event. Foster (1946) notes that in 1945 this was '- getting commoner and Mr Craufurd (sic) tells me that at least forty-seven specimens were recorded by him [in Bishops Stortford] in thirty-five days'.

Middlesex Notes:
Plant (2003) showed only two map dots for Middlesex (and none in the London part of Hertfordshire either). The 2003 map adds 2 or 3 overlooked old records as well as 2 or 3 new records, but the overal situation remains unchanged in that this species is scarce here.

Recorded in 33 (80%) of 41 10k Squares. First Recorded in 1887. Last Recorded in 2024. Additional Stats

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