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 473 verified sightings
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
Observation date: Sep 14, 2024
Submitted by: lisagorn
Region: Otsego County, New York, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Dec 12, 2024
Observation date: Aug 30, 2024
Submitted by: Brandybw
Region: Anchorage, Alaska, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Oct 17, 2024
Observation date: Aug 12, 2024
Submitted by: jwileyrains
Region: Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 21, 2024
Observation date: Aug 12, 2024
Submitted by: Cyn6750
Region: New Brunswick, Canada
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Aug 13, 2024
Observation date: Aug 11, 2024
Submitted by: bobscafe
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Aug 12, 2024
Observation date: Aug 05, 2024
Submitted by: Chris Blomme
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Aug 08, 2024
Observation date: May 31, 2024
Submitted by: FarmerJoe
Region: Oakland County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 23, 2024
Observation date: Jun 26, 2024
Submitted by: mbalame99
Region: Clatsop County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jun 28, 2024
Observation date: Jun 20, 2024
Submitted by: bobscafe
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jun 22, 2024
Observation date: Sep 12, 2023
Submitted by: wpmiii
Region: Windham County, Connecticut, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Sep 13, 2023
Observation date: Sep 07, 2023
Submitted by: Peter1650
Region: Otsego County, New York, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Sep 08, 2023
Observation date: Sep 02, 2023
Submitted by: ian pepper
Region: Essex County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Sep 04, 2023
Observation date: Aug 11, 2023
Submitted by: Arabella S Dane
Region: Belknap County, New Hampshire, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 13, 2023
Observation date: Aug 10, 2023
Submitted by: rocksnstars
Region: Oxford County, Maine, United States
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Aug 11, 2023
Observation date: Jun 12, 2023
Submitted by: Delta7
Region: Manitoba, Canada
Verified by: chalicerae
Verified date: Aug 06, 2023
Observation date: Jun 09, 2023
Submitted by: one72guy
Region: Saskatchewan, Canada
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Jul 27, 2023
Observation date: Jul 07, 2023
Submitted by: gdofseattle
Region: Spokane County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 16, 2023
Observation date: Jul 13, 2023
Submitted by: Jacqulyn123
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 16, 2023
Observation date: Jul 09, 2023
Submitted by: brimmysan
Region: Alberta, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 09, 2023
Observation date: Jun 23, 2023
Submitted by: bobscafe
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 06, 2023
Observation date: Jun 16, 2023
Submitted by: Boodle
Region: Snohomish County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jun 18, 2023
Observation date: Jun 11, 2023
Submitted by: Stéphan Ruest
Region: Quebec, Canada
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Jun 12, 2023
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