Can anyone ID this sphinx cat?

My aunt knows I'm into raising caterpillars so she called me to say she found one crawling on her carport. Figured it's a sphinx but which one? Have no idea what it was eating. She has ash, bouganvilla, mountain laurel, sage, rose bushes and grass around her yard. I've tried all plants that I have in my yard as well but it only nibbled on the rose bush leaves she had.

I put in a dish with dirt and it buried itself...but about an hour later it was back out crawling around. If anyone knows which species it is do let me know so I can look up it's larval host plant.

It's a light green, with the typical white streak and reddish dots. Has a slight reddish or orangish back.

~ Cat

another photo...~ Cat

try Ash tree leaves. Great Ash Sphinx Moth I think or at least several other similars one eat Ash leaves

This message was edited Apr 1, 2007 7:35 PM

Forgot to say...I also tried ash as she has a tree in her front and back yard. Didn't even touch the stuff.

~ Cat

Cat - Wow! What a neat cat! Sorry I can't help you. Did you try the bugfile here on DG to see if anyone can ID him for you? I know you must be getting frantic to find something for this cat to eat. =:-O Good Luck!

try grape, virginia creeper and paw paw

Ayeeeeeeeeeee....don't have grape or virginia creeper...and the only paw paw I have it barely two inches tall and has only four leaves. Caterpillar is not touching that little baby. I grew it from a seed and am guarding it with my life!!!

My aunt nor her neighbors have any of that stuff...everyone around pretty much has ash trees. I also tried hibiscus, firebush and cannas.

Rut roh...it better pupate soon :o)

~ Cat

Try the Waved Sphinx (Ceratomia undulosa) ..
Their common food plants are ash, fringe tree, and lilac.

Possibly; the Blinded Sphinx (Paonias excaecatus) ..
There's some similarities .. because it is highly variable, especially in the earlier instars. Also: their common foodplants consist of quite a repertoire .. which includes the rose.

And, am reluctant to think it may could be the Apple Sphinx (Sphinx gordius) - but I really can't 'see' to tell for sure: but want to mention it, because the rose and Ash is also included with its' common food plants.

I guess with our 'earlier' and warmer Spring - seeing the cats in the deep south this much earlier than May (in my reading) - really may not be uncommon afterall.

Hope the info helps some, but I'll keep a lookin' ..

((huggs))

- Magpye