Caterpillar
September 14, 2009
Found this guy about 2 years ago in Cleveland, Ohio Metroparks system. Gates Mills, Ohio to be exact. It was early fall and I found him sitting on a picnic table. I’ve tried to find his picture on the web but have not had much luck.
What is he?
Judy
Northeastern Ohio

Catalpa Sphinx Caterpillar

Hi Judy,
This is the dark form of the variable caterpillar of the Catalpa Sphinx, Ceratomia catalpae, which can be seen on Bill Oehlke’s wonderful website.

Thank you soooo much…I hate having a picture of something and not knowing what it is!
Take care!

What kind of butterfly or moth is this caterpillarit?
September 10, 2009
We have a buttlerfly garden and while weeding in an overgrown area we came across several blue green on top and green on underside caterpillars. They had 1 horn on the tail that is not deadly and when touched, it was soft not hard. Has single yellowgreen strip down each side with strip becoming white as it nears head area on sides. Has 2 small black spots encircled in yellow/white on upper back with a red spot on the side next to each black spot. Measures 3.5 – 4.0 inches. No fur, very smooth skin texture. No ripples or contours on body. We searched our field guide and the web with no results. Also posted picture on face book with no positive results.
Any help would be appreciated., Thanks, Ken Jewett
South Florida, United States

Ello Sphinx Caterpillars

Hi Ken,
These are Sphinx Moth Caterpillars in the genus Erinnyis, most probably Erinnyis ello, the Ello Sphinx, based on photos on Bill Oehlke’s awesome website.  We would not entirely discount the possibility that it might be Erinnyis alope, also pictured on Bill Oehlke’s website.  Sphinx Moth Caterpillars are called Hornworms.  Here is a list of food plants that Bill Oehlke associates with the Ello Sphinx:  “Larvae feed on papaya (Carica papaya) in the Caricaceae family and on Cnidoscolus angustidens and other plants in the spurge family (Euphorbiaceae) including poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima), guava (Psidium species) in the myrtle family (Myrtaceae) and on also saffron plum (Bumelia angustifolia/Bumelia celastrina) in the Sapotaceae family. : EUPHORBIACEAE. Manilkara bahamensis has also been reported as a host as have Willow Bustic (Bumelia salicifolia) and Painted Leaf (Poinsettia heterophylla).“

Unknown caterpillar
September 3, 2009
Hi, I found this really weird looking caterpillar in my birch tree. I have never seen anything like it in my life. It is green with 2 sets of horns toward the front of its head and has 1 horn at the end of its body. It blends in with the leaves and has what appears to be a leafs vein running up it’s back. I searched for something like this online and the closest thing I found was the lime hawk moth caterpillar. Is that what this is?
Denise-MA
Massachusetts

Four Horned Sphinx Caterpillar

Dear Denise-MA,
According to Bill Oehlke’s wonderful website, the Four Horned Sphinx, Ceratomia amyntor, is also called the Elm Sphinx, and its food plants include:  “Elm (Ulmus), birch (Betula), basswood (Tilia), black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) and cherry (Prunus).  There are chocolate-brown to orangey-brown, sometimes with a pinkish tint, and green forms of the larvae. The common names are derived from foodplants (Elm Sphinx) and the structure (Four-horned Sphinx) of the larva.“  We are impressed that you were able to locate this well camouflaged Four Horned Sphinx Caterpillar that matches the leaves of the birch tree so well.  We are copying Bill Oehlke on this response so he can add your sighting to the comprehensive data he is compiling on species distribution.

Well Camouflaged Four Horned Sphinx Caterpillar

Giant Caterpillar
August 22, 2009
Found in the garden on 12.12.08. Approx 10cm Long and 1.5cm dia.
Can you identify it and tell me what it has by now become? We put it over the wall onto an adjacen vacant plot of land. Haven’t seen any more
Roy
Gurgan, India

Oleander Hawkmoth Hornworm from India

Dear Roy,
This is a Sphinx Moth Caterpillar or Hawkmoth Caterpillar in the family Sphingidae.  These caterpillars are often called Hornworms for obvious reasons, and they are harmless.  The coloration of your specimen indicates that it was probably getting ready to pupate, which they do underground.  We will put in a quick inquiry with Bill Oehlke to see if he recognizes the species, and perhaps one of our readers will write in with a species identification.

Identification courtesy of Karl
August 24, 2009
Hi Daniel and Roy:
This looks like the caterpillar of the Oleander Hawkmoth (Daphnis nerii). It is native to southern Europe, Africa and Asia but is popping up worldwide as its host plant (Oleander) is spread as a popular ornamental. They are apparently well established in Hawaii for instance. The mature larvae are usually green but it does come in a variety of color variations; this is a brown form. The adults are very well represented on WTB and there has been at least one posting of a brown form caterpillar.  Regards.
Karl

Here’s looking at ya – not
August 12, 2009
Brown with a couple of spots but two big spots looks like eyes. Bottom of him is a green color but what is strange is he has one stinger on his behind area. Looks like it could be a caterpillar but just want to make sure and see if he is poisonous.
Tammy
Meraux, Louisiana

Tersa Sphinx Caterpillar

Hi Tammy,
This is a Tersa Sphinx Caterpillar, and we just posted a photo of the adult moth about an hour ago.  You are right about the spots as the caterpillar mimics a larger predator, like a snake, which may help prevent it from being eaten by birds or other predators that mistake it for a bigger potential threat.  The stinger is not a stinger, but a caudal horn.  It is not defensive in any way except visually.

Caterpillar, grey, “one-eye”, snake like
August 3, 2009
We found this caterpillar in the Rouge Valley area of southern Ontario. It is grey, and at the rear end it has a mark that looks like an eye. It raises it’s back end and strikes like a snake. Could you please tell us what type it is, and what it turns into?
R & E
Rouge Park, Toronto, South Eastern Ontario

Abbott's Sphinx Caterpillar

Dear R & E,
Your “one eyed monster” is an Abbott’s Sphinx Caterpillar, Sphecodina abbottii.  There are several different color morphs for the caterpillar that make them look like different species.  You can see these variations on Bill Oehlke’s awesome website.