What is this caterpillar
August 24, 2009
I live in Western Newfoundland. My grandson found the attached caterpillar in his back garden. what abeauty…The “horn” is at the back end. I put is in a container and addedafew shrub leaves which is quickley began to feed on. I’ve since given it its freedom (I may be sorry :O)
Keith P.
Wetsern Newfoundland, Canada

Laurel Sphinx Caterpillar

Hi Keith,
This beautiful caterpillar is a Laurel Sphinx, Sphinx kalmiae.  We quickly located it on Bill Oehlke’s awesome website.

Thank you for your prompt reply and interesting literature.  It certainly is a very beautiful creature.   I’m in deep trouble with my wife if it decides to breed in the garden – we have Lilac L
Keith Piercey
Corner Brook

Hi again Keith,
WE will try to get you off the hook in the interest of preserving your marital bliss.  Though a large Sphinx Caterpillar can consume a considerable quantity of leaves, this does not do lasting damage to the plant.  By the time your Sphinx Caterpillars appear in a given year, the lilacs have finished blooming.  We doubt that there would ever be more than a few Laurel Sphinx Caterpillars on a given lilac.  Some moths lay all their eggs in one location, but Sphinx Moths tend to be more selective, and place single eggs on distant leaves.

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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

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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.