Oleander Hawk-moth Daphnis nerii (also Deilephila nerii)

Oleander Hawk-moth Many thanks to Buckley for the above photo of an Oleander Hawk-moth in Cyprus.
Oleander Hawk-moth A better impression this way up of the fearsome "false eyes" to startle a predator.
An attractive moth with an impressive wingspan of 90-130mm. Resident in much of the southern European Mediterranean region, North Africa and the near and Middle East. An occasional migrant to the rest of Europe and Central Asia and even to Southeast Asia, encouraged by the export of the toxic oleander as a decorative flowering plant. A very rare vagrant to UK in late summer and established in Hawaii. The caterpillar foodplant is mainly oleander but it also feeds on periwinkle.