Subject: Fat Green Caterpillar with a Black horn and spots
Location: West Columbia, SC
September 9, 2012 1:52 pm
I found this today around a stump, while mowing the grass! I’ve never seen such a thing! People were telling me it sounds like a tomato or a tobacco worm, but it has no stripes like a tomato worm and has spots. What do you think?
Signature: Kaitlyn
Hi Kaitlyn,
The Tomato and Tobacco Hornworms are in the same family as this Tersa Sphinx Caterpillar, so there are certain similarities. You have mentioned the differences that can be used to differentiate the Tersa Sphinx Caterpillar from other caterpillars in the family Sphingidae. Perhaps you have penta growing nearby as that is a preferred food of the Tersa Sphinx Caterpillar. See Sphingidae of the Americas for additional information on the Tersa Sphinx.
YES,YES, HIS IS WHAT I HAVE. WHERE DO THEY GO WHEN THEY GET REALLY BIG. THEY CAN SURE EAT A WHOLE BUSH AT LEAST THE TOPS. IT IS WORTH IT TO WATCH THEM. MAYBE I WILL GO OUT AT NIGHT AND SEE IF I CAN FIND THEM.WHITCH IS THE MALE AND FEMALE