CHENGDU, May 11-- A hawk moth found in a mountainous area in the southwest province of Sichuan is believed to be the largest of its species ever discovered, local experts said Monday.

Zhao Li, head of the Insect Museum of West China, Chengdu City, said, the hawk moth was discovered by a team from the museum during an expedition on Qingcheng Mountain. The moth's wingspan is 17.5 centimeters long. Previously, the largest hawk moth found had a wingspan of 15.6 centimeters.

The newly discovered hawk moth belongs to the species of langia zenzeroides, the largest hawk moth species. Wing spans of langia zenzeroides are generally 12 to 15 centimeters long.

According to Zhao, langia zenzeroides usually live in northern India, northern Thailand, northern Vietnam, as well as southern and eastern China. They temporarily live in mountainous areas with an altitude of 1,000 to 2,000 meters in western Sichuan Province in April and May.