Galium odoratum sweet woodruff Galium verum- Ladies Bedstraw, Galium aparine,-Cleavers/Sticky Willy are all larval host plants for Hummingbird Hawkmoths to lay their single egg on - up to 250/300 single eggs will be laid. They then pupate in leaf mulch soil on the ground and then emerge to feed off high nectar plants such as Buddleia, Nicotiana, Phlox and many other plants. So in conclusion, if you create this environment then hopefully you will encourage them to use your garden.
Incidentally, if you have Rosebay willow herb in your garden -you may even get to see the Elephant Hawkmoth check this beautiful creature out to be amazed too.
So please be mindful and careful when clearing and tidying amongst leaf litter and preferably consider collecting any leaf mulch and putting to one side of your garden so if there are any of these amazing creatures hiding they get the full opportunity to overwinter and pupate in Spring.
HUMMINGBIRD HAWK MOTH
Blog entry posted by BeeHappy, Oct 10, 2017.