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
Hi Gayle,
Please provide a location before we begin any research.
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.
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.