Hello! I am Daniel from Kenya. I found this insect around Machakos County and I’d appreciate your assistance in identifying it. Thank you in advance for your help.
Hi Daniel,
This is a Sphinx Moth Caterpillar or Hornworm in the family Sphingidae. We are not certain of the species. Hornworms, which get their common name because of the anal horn, are harmless, despite their sometimes fierce appearance and the thrashing behavior they exhibit when disturbed. Adult Sphinx Moths are sometimes called Hummingbird Moths because of their ability to hover and to fly both forward and backward, leading some observers to mistake the large insects for hummingbirds.
