This caterpillar came in the house, on the back of my shirt

ViburnumValley Scott County, KY(Zone 5b) Jun 14, 2011

It's lucky it didn't get squished when I sat down, and that my spouse notices things like this.

Now that it's back outside, what is it?

Post #8630987

Quote

ViburnumValley Scott County, KY(Zone 5b) Jun 14, 2011

Here's another angle...

Post #8630993

Quote

ViburnumValley Scott County, KY(Zone 5b) Jun 14, 2011

This one wants some edu-macation - maybe an BS in Entomology?

Post #8631001

Quote

kwanjin (Zone 7a) Jun 14, 2011

I think it's a Hornworm but I'm not sure which. Perhaps, you can find it here...

http://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&keys=hornworm&search=Search

Post #8631172

Quote

LadyAshleyR Oakland, MD Jun 15, 2011

Definitely a sphinx caterpillar of some type!
Will try to dig up a better ID.
http://www.silkmoths.bizland.com/SphAlbertalarvae.htm

This message was edited Jun 15, 2011 5:06 AM

Post #8631377

Quote

ViburnumValley Scott County, KY(Zone 5b) Jun 15, 2011

I wonder if this might be it, especially given the description of older instars turning brown (like mine above).

http://davesgarden.com/guides/bf/go/1721/

Now, I wish I'd insisted on keeping it in a jar or something, instead of "setting it free". Dang.

The other one it resembles is the Wild Cherry Sphinx Moth (lots of Prunus serotina, etc. around here).

http://davesgarden.com/guides/bf/go/377/