Subject: Huge brown defensive Cyclops looking caterpillar
Location: Denver Colorado
July 24, 2014 9:50 pm
Please help me identify this what I am assuming is a caterpillar. We came home around 10 pm it’s about 65 degrees out . Our dog was tossing this thing around and it was getting very defensive. It has one spot on it’s rear end, is a great flipper, and it’s face was tucked in. Very fast moving, and about 3 -4 inches long and it was about as fat as a penny.
Signature: Confused Coloradan
Dear Confused Coloradan,
Hornworms in the genus Eumorpha loose their caudal horns and all that remains is a type of scar known as the caudal bump, and in some species this resembles an eye. Your caterpillar is most likely that of an Achemon Sphinx, and you can compare your image to this image on BugGuide.