CLOSED: Cat Eating my spider lily - do you know what it is?

onalee Brooksville, FL(Zone 9a) Sep 14, 2007

It looks like a type of Sphinx moth cat, haven't seen one this tan/brown color or eating a spider lily - do you know what it is?

Thanks,
Onalee

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DonnaB Vancleave, MS(Zone 8b) Sep 15, 2007

wondering if this is a last stage Army Worm. I am finding them on my brugs

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onalee Brooksville, FL(Zone 9a) Sep 16, 2007

Really? Do army worms get that big? This cat is was about 2" long and pretty fat - had the skin of a tomato hornworm (sphynix moth) caterpillar - very smooth. We have lots of army worms/moths eating the grass in our pasture, but I've never seen anything that big out there.

thanks,
Onalee

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DonnaB Vancleave, MS(Zone 8b) Sep 17, 2007

I honestly don't know for sure Onalee. It is just what I have been thinking. I can't find a match for it in my books but have lots of the little army worm so just figured it must be a mature one. Maybe someone else will come along and let us know

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claypa West Pottsgrove, PA(Zone 6b) Sep 17, 2007

Two inches is kind of big for an army worm, but it sure looks like one. Genus Spodoptera?

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DonnaB Vancleave, MS(Zone 8b) Sep 17, 2007

Thanks claypa. It has me baffled too

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onalee Brooksville, FL(Zone 9a) Sep 17, 2007

I think you guys are right -wow, no wonder they can eat so much grass! I've never seen one that big out in my patures, but that definately looks like it.

darn, I thought I had something new and wonderful!

thanks again,
Onalee