The Maghreb Poplar Hawkmoth (Laothoe austanti) is a species of moth

Moth

A moth is an insect closely related to the butterfly, both being of the order Lepidoptera. Moths form the majority of this order; there are thought to be 150,000 to 250,000 different species of moth , with thousands of species yet to be described...

 of the Sphingidae

Sphingidae

Sphingidae is a family of moths , commonly known as hawk moths, sphinx moths and hornworms, that includes about 1,200 species . It is best represented in the tropics but there are species in every region . They are moderate to large in size and are distinguished among moths for their rapid,...

 family. It is known from the Atlas Mountains

Atlas Mountains

The Atlas Mountains is a mountain range across a northern stretch of Africa extending about through Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia. The highest peak is Toubkal, with an elevation of in southwestern Morocco. The Atlas ranges separate the Mediterranean and Atlantic coastlines from the Sahara Desert...

 and coastal plains of Morocco

Morocco

Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...

, northern Algeria

Algeria

Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...

 and Tunisia

Tunisia

Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...

 and the neighbouring desert areas. The habitat consists of poplar- and willow-lined streams and rivers.

The wingspan

Wingspan

The wingspan of an airplane or a bird, is the distance from one wingtip to the other wingtip. For example, the Boeing 777 has a wingspan of about ; and a Wandering Albatross caught in 1965 had a wingspan of , the official record for a living bird.The term wingspan, more technically extent, is...

 is 95-120 mm. It is larger and generally paler than similar Laothoe populi. There is a dark brown form (form brunnea).

There are usually two generations per year, with adults on wing from April to May and again from July to August. In some years there is a third generation.

The larvae feed on Salix and Populus species.

Etymology

Staudinger

Otto Staudinger

Otto Staudinger was a German entomologist and a natural history dealer considered one of the largest in the world specialising in the collection and sale of insects to museums, scientific institutions, and individuals....

 named the species for Jules Léon Austaut

Jules Léon Austaut

Jules Léon Austaut was a French entomologist who specialised in Lepidoptera.-Works:* 1879. Lépidoptères nouveaux d'Algérie. Petites Nouvelles entomologiques, 2, p. 293* 1879-1885. Lépidoptères nouveaux d'Algérie. Le Naturaliste 7, pp. 141-142...

, but made a spelling mistake and named it Smerinthus austanti instead.