Rustic Sphinx Caterpillar

Very Large Caterpillar
July 20, 2009
I found this caterpillar on a Vitex tree while pruning. I had thought perhaps it was a Poplar Hawk Moth or maybe a Luna Moth caterpillar but, am now unsure after looking at pictures of each.
Brad
Marietta, Ga

Rustic Sphinx Caterpillar

Hi Brad,
Properly identifying Sphinx Caterpillars can be a challenge for us, and it often takes considerable research.  Thanks so much for supplying the name of the food plant.  We just did a web search of vitex and sphinx and quickly arrived at this Sphinx Caterpillar of Texas page by Bill Oehlke that had a photo of the Rustic Sphinx eating Vitex.

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