Subject: big ugly thing
Geographic location of the bug: southern calif
Date: 07/22/2019
Time: 04:04 PM EDT
Your letter to the bugman: hi – i flushed this beast out of my grapevines, have no clue what it is. it has what looks like one eye on top of its head, four pairs of feet. no horn on its backend.
How you want your letter signed: Sue
Dear Sue,
This is an Achemon Sphinx Caterpillar, a member of the family with caterpillars commonly called Hornworms. Your particular species, in fact many members of that genus, shed their horn before attaining full size, and there is a caudal bump where the caudal horn was located. The caudal bump does resemble an eye.
Hi Daniel – thanks so much! I discovered the retractable head ( how weird ) when it started to move. I had it’s ends mixed up… I hope it sticks around when it morphs.
Cheers
Sue