Subject: Caterpillar
Geographic location of the bug: Southeastern South Dakota
Date: 09/15/2018
Time: 09:34 AM EDT
Your letter to the bugman: What kind of moth will this become? Is the caterpillar dangerous to my flowers?
How you want your letter signed: Susan
Dear Susan,
This is a Whitelined Sphinx Caterpillar, and the adult Whitelined Sphinx is often confused for a hummingbird when it visits blossoms during the crepuscular time of day. Most caterpillars feed on leaves and they do not do appreciable damage to plants unless they are quite numerous and the plant is already stressed due to other factors.