The genus Deilephila is part of the family Sphingidae, the hawk-moths or sphinxes.

It consists of a small number of Palearctic species most of which have common names involving the phrase "elephant hawk moth".

However their eyelashes are much more distinct, and the numerous spines on their abdomens are less strongly chitinized.

The larvae are not typical of hawk moth caterpillars, with the horn on the terminal segment being less pronounced than usual, and absent in some species.

The caterpillars feed mainly on plants of the Onagraceae and Rubiaceae families.