Green and Yellow Caterpillar
Location: Kasane, Botswana
January 14, 2011 5:05 pm
This is rainy season in Kasane, Botswana and I saw this beautiful green and yellow striped caterpillar with a spike on his back end. Can you please let me know if it is poinsonous and what it will become? Thank you.
Signature: Laura Marchitto Massie
Death's Head Hawkmoth Caterpillar
Dear Laura,
This is a Sphinx Moth or Hawkmoth Caterpillar, known as a Hornworm. We believe it is an early instar of the Death’s Head Hawkmoth, Acherontia atropos, based on a photo on the Sphingidae of the Western Palaearctic website. As the caterpillar molts through successive instars, the horn becomes proportionally smaller.
¶ Posted 15 January 2011 § ‡ ° Strange Panamanian Catepillar
Location: Ancon, Panama City, Panama
January 9, 2011 10:33 am
So I found this large caterpillar just outside of Panama City, Panama and have no idea what it is. I was hoping you could help me. It has a red head, jet black body with yellow-white stripes, and orange legs and rear with a black spine. It was almost 6 inches long too, definitely the longest caterpillar I have ever seen!
Signature: Thanks, Dennis
Tetrio Sphinx Caterpillar
Dear Dennis,
The caterpillar of the Tetrio Sphinx, Pseudosphinx tetrio, is quite distinctive. You can read about the Tetrio Sphinx on the Sphingidae of the Americas website.
¶ Posted 09 January 2011 § ‡ ° Large Catterpillar
Location: Algarve Portugal
January 2, 2011 12:41 pm
Probably the largest catterpillar i’ve seen. I would say about 4.5ins. More flourescent green in real life than appears on the photos.
Could you help indentify it for me.
There are more photos if required.
Signature: Eduardo
Death's Head Hawkmoth Caterpillar
Hi Eduardo,
This is the caterpillar of a Death’s Head Hawkmoth, Acherontia atropos. In August we posted a photo and letter from Portugal regarding a Death’s Head Hawkmoth Caterpillar and you may also read about it on the UK Moths website.
¶ Posted 02 January 2011 § ‡ ° Identify caterpillar
Location: Southern Saskatchewan, Canada (Estevan)
January 2, 2011 7:26 am
Hi
If you could identify this caterpillar found in southern Saskatchewan, Canada in the Fall that would be wonderful.
Signature: Karen
Achemon Sphinx Caterpillar
Hi Karen,
We believe this is an Achemon Sphinx Caterpillar, and it appears that it may have left its food plant and begun to hunt for a likely spot to dig into the earth and pupate. The Sphingidae of the Americas website indicates that there are no reported sightings of the Achemon Sphinx in Saskatchewan, though it is suspected to range in the region. Because of that, we are copying Bill Oehlke on this reply and he may request permission to use your photograph as well as to include your sighting data so he can update the status of the Achemon Sphinx in Saskatchewan. You can read about the Achemon Sphinx on the Sphingidae of the Americas website.
Hi Daniel,
Yes, that one is Eumorpha achemon. Thanks for referral.
Bill Oehlke
¶ Posted 02 January 2011 § ‡ ° Please help me identify this
Location: Gladstone, Queensland, Australia
December 2, 2010 1:57 am
Please can you help me id this catapillar. It was found in Central coastal Queensland Australia just today, beginning of summer.
Thank you for your help.
Signature: Regards, Kylie
Impatiens Hawkmoth Caterpillar
Dear Kylie,
Even though we didn’t answer your letter immediately, once we saw this caterpillar, we quickly identified it as an Impatiens Hawkmoth Caterpillar, on the Australian Caterpillars website.
Giant caterpillar in southwest Florida
Location: Corkscrew Swamp in Southwest Florida
December 30, 2010 2:50 pm
Hey…
I found this caterpillar in Corkscrew swamp near Naples, FL. It was late November and the caterpillar was in a tree about ten feet off the ground. It was about 5 to 6 inches long. I thought it was a branch but then it started moving. Im not sure what type of tree was feeding in. Is this some type of giant sphinx caterpillar? I’ve looked all over for his ID but cant find anything. This is probably the largest caterpillar I have ever seen.
(PS i got your book for Christmas and love it!)
Signature: Sammy
Possibly Obscure Sphinx Caterpillar
Hi Sammy,
It is difficult to be certain, but we suspect this may be an Obscure Sphinx Caterpillar, Erinnyis obscura, based on a photo posted to the Sphingidae of the Americas website. Knowing the food plant is often a big help in caterpillar identification. We will try to check with Bill Oehlke to see if he agrees with our tentative identification.
Possibly Obscure Sphinx Caterpillar
¶ Posted 30 December 2010 § ‡ ° Death Hawk Moth Caterpillar in Johannesurg South Africa
Location: Johannesburg, South Africa
December 9, 2010 2:49 am
I noticed that you had a picture and confirmed siting of this caterpillar in Durban South Africa about 600km away from were mine was found.
I only have one specimen. It’s getting close to pupation. It’s living off my Jasmine plant.
How widespread is the Death Mask Hawk Moth in South Africa? (That is what is its range?) I’m sure the Hawkmoth is not endemic to SA – where did it come from and how long has it been in the country?
I note you asked your previous correspondent from Durban to take pictures of the moth. Any advice on how to do this – simply I understand the caterpillar will bury itself and I’m scared I’ll lose the pupae. How long before the moth appears?
I really hope you can assist me with this – it’s the most exciting piece of nature in my garden in a long time.
Signature: Martin
Death's Head Hawkmoth Caterpillar
Hi Martin,
WE are always thrilled to be able to write about the Death’s Head Hawkmoth and its beautiful caterpillar. According to the Biodiversity of South Africa website, of the three known species in the genus Acherontia that are all commonly called the Death’s Head Hawkmoth, the species found in South Africa is Acherontia atropos. The distribution is described as: “Found throughout Africa, Madagascar and most of Europe. A slightly different form, regarded by some as a separate species, is found throughout Asia.“ The Sphingidae of the Western Palaearctic website has much information, but alas, there is no map. For some unknown reason, the Sphingidae of the Eastern Palaearctic website does have a distribution map that indicates the species may be found in southern Africa, but we do not understand the difference between the green dots and the blue dots. South Africa does seem to be considered part of the range of the species. There is generally a period of several weeks spent in the pupal stage though that would vary with the severity of the winter. We cannot say for certain when the adult moth will emerge.
Death's Head Hawkmoth Caterpillar
Thank you so much for your prompt reply.
Much appreciated – I’ve been doing a bit more research and it looks like the pupal stage can be as short as two weeks – that is South Africa is currently in summer and if there is a chance of a second cycle in the season the Death’s Head Hawkmoth may use the opportunity.
Really hoping to get pictures of the moth.
Thanks again
Martin
¶ Posted 09 December 2010 § ‡ ° Catalan, European Moth Caterpillar
Location: Catalan Pre-Pyrenees/Pyrenees, Cadí-Moixeró. Near Bellver de Cerdanya, Catalonia.
November 29, 2010 5:23 am
First of all, thank you for the great work done here.
In a hike we went two years ago found a (probably) moth caterpillar of unknown (for me) of unknown type. It was in summer, in the catalan pre-pyrenees, near bellver de cerdanya and in the Cadi-Moixeró national park limits. Size was about 60mm long by 13-15mm.
I sent a pair of images.
Thank you very much in advance,
Signature: Victor Calvis i Ponton
Leafy Spurge Hawkmoth Caterpillar
Dear Victor,
This gaudy caterpillar is Hyles euphorbiae, commonly called the Leafy Spurge Hawkmoth. You can read about it on the Sphingidae of the Americas website because it was introduced to North America to help control the spread of a European weed, the Leafy Spurge. The Sphingidae of the Eastern Palaearctic website has a map with the native range of the species indicated.
Leafy Spurge Hawkmoth Caterpillar
¶ Posted 29 November 2010 § ‡ ° 
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