When the elephant hawk-moth caterpillar feels threatened, its turns itself over to reveal its belly and its body swells up to the shape of a pit viper's head, completely transforming itself into a menacing predator 🐍 | Royal Institution of Great Britain

Our West Berkshire Land Manager Roger captured this excellent video of an elephant hawk moth caterpillar which he found in his garden. You can see it extending its neck like an elephant's trunk in exactly the way that gives this species its name. Roger says: "The caterpillars feed on willowherb species and also enchanter's nightshade - plants that most gardeners would consider weeds, but in our garden they are given space and the moths obviously find it as I see them every year." A few more tips