Sphinx moth caterpillar ID neededd

Okay, ya'll - I'm stumped!!! I haven't been able to ID this one. I found it on a mesquite tree at the ranch in San Isidro, (Starr County) TX today. Figured it's a sphinx moth - but which one?

This is the freakiest caterpillar I've seen. There are two rows of horns behind the head (as well as the one anal horn). The body segments consist of rows of 'thorns' that are silver colored (yes silver) on the outside and red on the inside.

What impressed me is that this caterpillar blended in so well with the green leaves and silvery thorns of the mesquite tree.

Any ideas? My first thought was that it resembled a Hickory Horned Devil - I know it's not that because it isn't the same - just similar - and we don't get those down here in the south.

~ Cat

This message was edited Oct 10, 2009 7:35 PM

Another photo.

Got email on the ID for this one. It's a syssphinx heiligbrodti moth - not a sphinx but rather a giant silkmoth called Mesquite Moth. Go figure. I should've looked up mesquite moth :o) I'd like to call it a Mesquite Horned Devil :o)

~ Cat

Just found this link...but see you already have it!
http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3343

Sheila,

Thanks...I see that BAMONA doesn't have records for the south tip of Texas. The Texas Parks and Wildlife friend that ID'd it said someone at one of the parks showed him one a couple of years ago.

~ Cat

Plus my link on the hubbardi says:

The BAMONA link you provided indicates mesquite as a larval host. Another site mentioned acacia - which is abundant in south Texas as well. I am puzzled though - considering how much mesquite and acacia are all around you'd think I'd have seen a caterpillar before or that others would have reported more sightings. Am a tad bummed out though - you'd think with such an odd looking the caterpillar the moth would be equally stunning - it's kind of ho hum looking :o)

~ Cat

Yes, I was thinking the same thing.