Central Alabama; the flaccid caterpillar was found in a bag of potting soil this morning. There are oak, sweet gum, red bud and viburnum in the vicinity. I brought the cat. inside, and it appears to be alive, but very little movements noticed otherwise. Please help I.D. Thanks in advance.
It's a caterpillar of a moth in the family Notodontidae (prominents); it might be Heterocampa guttivitta (saddled prominent) - see http://www.dpughphoto.com/prominent%20moth%20caterpillar%20lsm%2080805%202_small.JPG
The caterpillars of this species show a great deal of individual variation in color pattern.
