CLOSED: Caterpillar ID help please?

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ObserveNature St. James City, FL(Zone 10a) Nov 17, 2014

Can anyone ID this caterpillar I had on my papaya tree? Possibly in the hawk moth, sphinx moth or hornworm family? Thanks in advance for assistance!

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Post #9976276
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Flapdoodle Minot, ND Nov 18, 2014

This is a sphinx moth caterpillar; perhaps Erinnyis alope, a highly variable species that is known to feed on papaya
http://majikphil.blogspot.com/2013/12/florida-papaya-worms-and-holiday-scenes.html

Post #9976491
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ObserveNature St. James City, FL(Zone 10a) Nov 18, 2014

Thank you for the lead! Looks like you found it. I was close but hadn't been able to find the connection to Alope Sphinx moths since the caterpillar I saw was young and had not developed the fake eye marking. Much appreciated!

Post #9976551
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