CLOSED: Can someone ID this caterpillar?

My husband found him on one of our baby apple trees. He had eaten every last darn leaf off of it and just left the central vein of each leaf. I've never seen one like it. Anyone know?

Here's another picture

One more

No one knows? :-( I was so hoping for an ID so I could post him.

creekwalker, you might look here and maybe also post you pic over on the Butterfly and Hummingbird Forum.

http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/ or here http://www.giffbeaton.com/caterpillars.htm

This message was edited Aug 29, 2008 12:35 PM

Sphinx Moth caterpillar....Maybe a young Eumorpha larva (?)

Thanks Nanny and Ned. Those are excellent sites, but I still can't find this one. I realize he might have been green or another color and was in the process of changing, but I still can't seem to find him. Oh well. I had thought maybe sphinx moth too, I think because of his face, but still no luck. Thanks again!

Bumping. I sent this to what's that bug too but so far, no answer. I may never know. :p

Gosh someone somewhere has to know what it is!

how about Hydrangea Sphinx

"Larvae turn a deep chocolate brown just prior to pupation, and the "horn" on the tail also turns downward as pupation draws near."

This message was edited Sep 6, 2008 2:30 PM

I’m working from memory here (I am currently unable to view images on this site, and only get access to the site sporadically because of ISP server problems), but I do not believe that the setal pattern on this caterpillar is consistent with it being a sphingid. Unfortunately, that still doesn’t answer the question of its identity.

Thanks Donna, but there is no horn at all on this caterpillar.

Thanks also suunto. It certainly is a mystery!

After a lot of thought, I suspect that this caterpillar could be an odd color variant of an Acronicta species (family Noctuidae) - see http://facweb.furman.edu/~snyderjohn/tatum/402-403.htm and http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/insects/cateast/acrosupe.htm and look at the overall shape and setal pattern.

I was on that last site last night looking and though there were a couple that might be close. The pics there are awful though.

Thanks! I'll check them out.

This one http://facweb.furman.edu/~snyderjohn/tatum/402-403.htm does look VERY much like it. I blew the picture up larger and it's head looks really similar as do the shape, certain spots, etc.

I found it! Whoo hoo! Here it is http://bugguide.net/node/view/1354/bgimage It's a Clear Dagger Moth, Acronicta clarescens. You had the right family Suunto. :-) Thanks so much!

Yay!!!! Another mystery solved.