The elephant hawk moth is a large moth belonging to the family Lepidoptera. Its name comes from the fact that the larvae elongate their bodies when they feed, resembling the trunk of an elephant. The adult body is 35-40mm long, the wing span is about 70-80mm, the body color is bright, the front wing is pink and green, and the rear wing is bright pink. The larvae have a unique defense mechanism. When frightened, they will retract their bodies and use their spots to disguise themselves as snakes to scare off natural enemies. The adults are mainly nocturnal, feed on nectar and have a strong ability to fly. The larvae feed on the willow family, while the adults visit the flowers at night to absorb honey.

It is a very common moth in Europe, known for its unique appearance and behavior, and is known as the "four unlike" of the insect kingdom. It has a very beautiful appearance, with soft golden and magenta scales covering its wings and body, resembling a futuristic jet plane. The larval stage usually appears dark, sometimes bright green, and is said to resemble the trunk of an elephant, but is more often compared to pet feces. It is a nocturnal creature that feeds on nectar, has a keen sense of smell and color vision, and can find flowers in the dark. Belonging to the family of hawk moths, it is known for its fast wing flapping and acrobatic flight.