Bedstraw hawkmoth
Hyles gallii (Rottemburg, 1775)
Family: Sphingidae
Subfamily: Macroglossinae
Identification: Forewing upperside is dark olive brown with lighter brown along the outer margin and a tan band running from the wing tip to the inner margin. Hindwing upperside is dark brown with a pale narrow outer margin and a reddish median band which becomes white at the inner margin.
Wing Span: 2 1/2 - 3 1/16 inches (6.4 - 7.8 cm).
Life History: Adults begin flying in the late afternoon and dusk. Females lay eggs on leaves of the host plants. Fully-grown caterpillars pupate and overwinter in loose cocoons in shallow underground burrows.
Flight: . One brood from May-August.
Caterpillar Hosts: Bedstraw (Gallium), willow weed (Epilobium), woodruff (Asperula), and godetia (Godetia).
Adult Food: Nectar from flowers including bouncing bet (Saponaria officinalis), lilac (Syringa vulgaris), and Monarda.
Habitat: Open meadows and roadsides in coniferous forests; gardens.
Range: Newfoundland south through Maine to Pennsylvania; west to Alaska, Yukon Territory, and California. Also found in Eurasia.
Conservation: Not usually required.
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: None reported.
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 495 verified sightings
Observation date: Jul 28, 2026
Submitted by: Severino Carbone
Region: Otsego County, New York, United States
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Jul 30, 2026
Observation date: Jul 25, 2026
Submitted by: Gran
Region: Alberta, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 26, 2026
Observation date: Jul 22, 2026
Submitted by: Stu Adams
Region: Alberta, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 25, 2026
Observation date: Jul 24, 2026
Submitted by: Avie
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 25, 2026
Observation date: Jul 02, 2026
Submitted by: bobscafe
Region: Alberta, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 16, 2026
Observation date: Aug 15, 2025
Submitted by: Izzyatthelookout
Region: Alberta, Canada
Verified by: BarbSendelbach
Verified date: Jul 08, 2026
Observation date: Aug 08, 2025
Submitted by: Quick Hilda
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: BarbSendelbach
Verified date: Jul 08, 2026
Observation date: Aug 13, 2025
Submitted by: offgridgirl
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: BarbSendelbach
Verified date: Jul 08, 2026
Observation date: Jun 28, 2026
Submitted by: Stu Adams
Region: Alberta, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jun 28, 2026
Observation date: Sep 04, 2016
Submitted by: VermontErin
Region: Franklin County, Vermont, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: May 14, 2026
Observation date: Sep 01, 2025
Submitted by: K and G Campbell
Region: Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jan 05, 2026
Observation date: Sep 05, 2025
Submitted by: Bugelord
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Oct 23, 2025
Observation date: Sep 28, 2025
Submitted by: jwileyrains
Region: Connecticut, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Sep 28, 2025
Observation date: Sep 22, 2025
Submitted by: drifter423
Region: New Brunswick, Canada
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Sep 23, 2025
Observation date: Aug 06, 2025
Submitted by: dlister
Region: Berkshire County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 09, 2025
Observation date: Aug 05, 2025
Submitted by: DualCitizen
Region: Schoharie County, New York, United States
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Aug 06, 2025
Observation date: Jul 21, 2025
Submitted by: bobscafe
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 22, 2025
Observation date: Jun 04, 2025
Submitted by: Greg A Bingaman Sr
Region: Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 09, 2025
Observation date: Jul 04, 2025
Submitted by: bobscafe
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 05, 2025
Observation date: Jun 27, 2025
Submitted by: bobscafe
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 05, 2025
Observation date: Jun 29, 2025
Submitted by: Nature.Freak
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jun 30, 2025
Observation date: Aug 15, 2022
Submitted by: E. Wallace
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jun 28, 2025
Observation date: Jun 11, 2025
Submitted by: christopherrath
Region: Saskatchewan, Canada
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jun 12, 2025
Observation date: Jun 04, 2025
Submitted by: bobscafe
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jun 08, 2025
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