Homes in Cheshire could be seeing a massive influx of giant 'sex-crazed' moths this summer.

According to the Liverpool Echo , the huge insects wake up around this time of year in the summer and residents are noticing them more than ever.

People in Wirral have reported numerous sightings of the mammoth insects in their gardens and on walls - with some saying their close encounters left them terrified.

However, wildlife experts say there is nothing to worry about the Poplar Hawk as they pose no harm to humans and merely exist to have sex.

They don't eat or drink and die as soon as the Laothoe populi have mated.

The huge 'sex-crazed moths' that could be invading Cheshire homes this summer

Tales of sightings of the over-sized moth have been shared around Facebook, yet there are even bigger moths out there.

Alan Gunn, subject leader in Natural Sciences and Psychology at Liverpool John Moores University, said: "As its name suggests, the caterpillars feed on the leaves of poplar trees. The caterpillars get very large but because they are green and feeding high up in the tree canopy we do not know that they are there.

"When they have finished feeding the caterpillars crawl down to the ground and pupate over winter.

A Poplar Hawk moth found by Lyndsey Dixon in Wirral
A Poplar Hawk moth found by Lyndsey Dixon in Wirral

"The adult moths emerge at this time of year but do not live very long. Hence they make a sudden dramatic appearance and are then gone."

The moths fly at night but are attracted to light, so you might find them flying through open doors and windows, on railway platforms and anywhere lights are left on overnight.

Alan said: "They try and find somewhere dark and out of sight to rest during the day because birds find them very tasty. If you disturb the moths then they sometimes flash their underwings – this is a ‘startle response’.

A poplar hawk moth found by Lyndsey Dixon in Wirral
A poplar hawk moth found by Lyndsey Dixon in Wirral

"However, they are totally harmless and cannot bite. Indeed, they are unable to feed because their proboscis is non-functioning. So attempting to give them a treat of sugar water or putting them on a flower will not help them.

"The adult moths exist only to fly around and have sex. After that, they die. It’s a short life and you don’t even get to eat and drink."

Julie Jones and her daughter Maxine Walker spotted one of the moths resting on an air vent outside McDonalds in Birkenhead, Wirral.

Mrs Jones said: "It was rather daunting finding a moth so big and I was a little scared taking the picture in case it flew at me.

"I have never seen a moth so big."

Other larger species of moths spotted in Wirral have included the Elephant Hawk moth, found by Ian Wiggins in his garden in Moreton.

The giant moth spotted by Julie Jones, from Tranmere, outside McDonalds at the Rock Retail Park, Birkenhead
The giant moth spotted by Julie Jones, from Tranmere, outside McDonalds at the Rock Retail Park, Birkenhead

Professor Ilik Saccheri, Professor of Ecological Genetics at the University of Liverpool said moths always remained the same size and were not any bigger than usual this year.

He said: "The Poplar hawk moth is not an uncommon species so maybe they are somewhat more abundant this year.

"We have had an unusual spell of dry and warm weather in the last three weeks or so but that in itself isn't a reason why you'd find more, it's more related to the previous year's weather.

"They're totally harmless. During the daytime their main concern is not getting eaten by birds so they try and stay out of the sun and are completely inactive.

"They go to sleep as pupi for the winter then they pop out now. They are just in the business of having sex."