Big Green Caterpillar
The other day when I was walking through the yard I saw this HUGE green caterpillar lying in the grass. He/she/it wasn't moving much and I'm pretty sure it was dying. I put it on a sheet of paper and took its picture. I wish I'd thought to put something in the photo for scale.
I couldn't tell which end was the head. I think it's this end but there aren't any eyes that I can detect.
A close up of the other end. I have no idea what kind of caterpillar this is, but it looks formidable. I did a cursory web search and didn't find it. Anyone know what this thing is? I saw another one a day or two after seeing this one.
Labels: nature
posted by Leslie @ 9:48 AM
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I believe it is an imperial moth caterpillar.
Ooh, it is! It is!
Thank you so much. I'm off to read about them. Thanks again!
Okay, it wasn't dying.
They feed on tree leaves and then when they're ready they drop to the ground and burrow into the ground to pupate.
Mine was getting ready to burrow, I betcha.
I fed him to the chickens. :(
Yes, I think you're right - it was going to pupate, alas! But there will be more.
BTW, I think the second picture was the head. Caterpillars have six real legs close to their head and several pairs of false legs that they lose after pupation. That's how you can tell which end is which.
If you ever see a blue one smoking a hookah, please let me know!;)
Yes, the triangular plates are at the tail end.
I saw another one, more of a brown phase (they are green or brown) and I left him alone.
So at least I didn't destroy all those lovely moths.
I only fed the first one to the chickens because I thought his days were numbered anyway.
The imperial moth is one of the giant silk moths, related to the Luna. I've seen a luna caterpillar here before, too. I've not *yet* seen the blue hookah smoking one, but my eyes are peeled.
I caught one of those things!!
I kept it in a cage and it went into it's cucoon but it never hatched :( Thanks to the person who posted the name, the nature guy from the newspaper couldn't figure it out...maybe when I grow up I can replace him!?
That was a baby "Hickory Horned Devil" The older ones will be bigger with longer horns. Google search it.
I know this post was a long time ago, but thank you! My parents found one of these guys and were trying to figure out what it was. Your post and comments helped big time!
Thank you!
I found one this weekend. Thanks for posting about it - helped me ID it!
Thanks to the information found here I now know what my "critter" is. I DID photo "him" beside a ruler. He is about 1/2" in diameter and 3-1/2" long. I have him in a plastic container with some dirt, hope he tries to burrow into it and pupates. I'm going to let my wife take him to school and let the kids watch him. Hopefully he will "hatch" out. These things are gigantic as moths from what I read ... up to 6-1/2" on the span.
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