This beautiful creature found its way into our kitchen

I would love to know what it is

 

Any ideas? Been in this garden for over 20 years, never seen a moth like that! It was captured and released ( obviously) just 20 minutes ago. Obviously a nocturnal critter........ any ideas?????

 

Elephant Hawk Moth

 

Rosebay Willowherb is a favourite food plant of Elephant Hawk Moth caterpillars.

 

I remember one day weeding in the garden I was employed in. Wow! Suddenly it was as if I'd put my hand into a collection of snakes. They were huge caterpillars of the Elephant Hawk moth. I collect a few plus the willow herb and kept them in a large plastic bottle. In a few days they adopted their chrysalis stage, in time they completed thier metamorphosis and emerged as beautiful moths.
As caterpillars you could actually hear them chomping away on the willowherb.