ID Again Please

This is the one we found last night. I'm so glad I joined this web site. For years I have found these cats. that resemble tomato horned worms but I never knew what they were. I even took a huge one (over 4" long to a local nursery) and they couldn't tell me what it was. Now I can just take a picture post it and get an answer. The picture may be a little hard to see but this one was much hairier then the one I found last week and its body was much sturdier. It acted like it wanted to bury itself.

Looks like a larva of the Imperial Moth (Eacles imperialis). It acted like it wanted to bury itself because it does. They pupate in an underground chamber.

Dale Clark
Dallas County Lepidopterists' Society
www.dallasbutterflies.com

Thank you Dale, I had been looking but hadn't found it yet, here is a link with ID and pictures.
http://pick4.pick.uga.edu/mp/20q?search=Eacles+imperialis&guide=Caterpillars

That's what I thought. I found one last week that looked similar, but it was softer and felt like paper. I was told that type pupates in a rolled up leaf. I'm surprised any survive around here that need to burrow, the ground is so hard. Which one is you in the picture? What is their host plant?
Lisa

This message was edited Nov 8, 2009 10:22 AM

Lisa, here is a link about the Imperial moth, the cats eat from many different trees, scroll down on the link and see.
http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3337

Thank you it was on the driveway by the garage dodging the soccer ball. It is really cute I moved it to a safer place. I guess my hummer/butterfly garden is working. I find them in the darndest places.
Lisa