100_0461, 100_0466, 100_0465, 100_0464, 100_0463, 100_0462
Hey Daniel
I’m feeling like I live in the land of the giants, after seeing the biggest butterfly ever, we found this 3-4 cm long caterpillar in the garden today, pictures attached. Are you able to identify it for me? I didnt want to get too close to him, he wasnt happy about being found I think and went back under the retaining wall as soon as we started to walk away.
Many thanks again
Gayle Downey
Coequosa australasiae Caterpillar
Hi Gayle,
Please provide a location before we begin any research.
Coequosa australasiae Caterpillar
Sorry Daniel!!
This photo was taken today at our home at Horsfield Bay on the NSW Central Coast. We are approx 50 – 60kms north of Sydney. Our home borders on the bush and we have an Australian Native Garden, this encourages a lot of natural wildlife which we are thrilled with.
Regards
Gayle Downey
No problem Gayle,
We will begin research tomorrow morning. Though this caterpillar resembles a Sphinx Moth Caterpillar except for the absence of a caudal horn, and though some Sphinx Caterpillars, which are commonly called Hornworms lack a caudal horn, we do not believe your caterpillar is a Sphinx, and we also have our doubts that it is a Giant Silkworm.
Caterpillar
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Hi, I just received a trackback ping from your site about a stilt-legged fly and noticed the images of the green caterpilar. I believe it may be the Australian Hawk Privet Moth Caterpillar, which I have photographed here: http://www.ccwild.com/blog/?page_id=1001 and as an adult here: http://www.ccwild.com/blog/?p=3274 (I hope this is of assistance).
Thanks for your input on the possible Australian Hawk Privet Moth Caterpillar. We are having a difficult time making out the caudal horn in the photo on this posting, so that makes the possibility of this caterpillar being a Hornworm questionable at best.
Hi guys,
just spotted this post. This is most likely Coequosa australasiae, which doesn’t appear to have a common name. It is one member of the Sphingidae that does not have the horn.
http://lepidoptera.butterflyhouse.com.au/sphi/aust.html
regards,
Trevor
Thanks Trevor.