CLOSED: Nasty Creatures on my Orange Tree, What is it?

aarnie Kissimmee, FL Sep 03, 2013

I'm getting quite a few of these on my blood orange tree (young) in Central Florida. Can anyone identify and/or tell me how to get rid of them?

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greene33 Vernonburg, GA Sep 03, 2013

Probably the Elephant Hawk Moth larva. I think it's beautiful. Please do not kill it.

EDIT: Please see the correct answer by Lily_love below.

This message was edited Sep 3, 2013 9:54 PM

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JoParrott Richland, WA(Zone 7b) Sep 03, 2013

Or possibly a butterfly larva?

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aarnie Kissimmee, FL Sep 03, 2013

greene33 Is it harmful to my tree? There are about a dozen on a small tree (5')
Thanks for the response.

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aarnie Kissimmee, FL Sep 03, 2013

Is this a Hawk Moth?

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Lily_love Central, AL(Zone 7b) Sep 03, 2013

aarnie, looks like you've these jewels in your garden. Those are Giant Swallowtail butterfly's caterpillars. Congrats. Their host plant are citrus trees' leaves. They won't do much damage on your tree.
http://davesgarden.com/guides/bf/showimage/726/

The moth looks like a Tersa sphinx moth. I'm raising some of those, and they're pretty . These larvae feed on Pentas.