Alien Critter! ID PLEASE!

[dossy]

I found this on my plant and thought it was some kind of pod. Then it moved, and I got real excited! I had my husband holding the branch to turn it, so there is some movement when I shot. Any information would be greatly appreciated.

1.

Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

2.

Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

3.

Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

Thanks for looking!

 

[photolizard]

Am I correct that this is a swallowtail caterpillar? I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[dossy]

Am I correct that this is a swallowtail caterpillar? I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong.

I get lots of Monarch caterpillars (there's a chrysalis right now about two branches below this thing), but I've never seen any other caterpillars in my yard. This particular shrub was planted last year, so maybe it's attracting new caterpillars. This is all very exciting for me! Thanks for your info!

 

[wizzard0003]

It could be the caterpillar from a Hawk, Sphinx or Hummingbird moth... There are probably
dozens (hundreds...?) of versions of each and their caterpillars are just as varied...

Here's a google image search...

http://www.google.com/search?q=sphi...jVqQHX9oDoBg&ved=0CAkQ_AUoAQ&biw=1053&bih=589

If you scroll through a bit there are many similar to yours... It should give you an idea of the variety
of these kind of caterpillars and the moths they turn into...

Nice find and super images, dossy, well done...!

 

[dossy]

It could be the caterpillar from a Hawk, Sphinx or Hummingbird moth... There are probably
dozens (hundreds...?) of versions of each and their caterpillars are just as varied...

Here's a google image search...

http://www.google.com/search?q=sphi...jVqQHX9oDoBg&ved=0CAkQ_AUoAQ&biw=1053&bih=589

If you scroll through a bit there are many similar to yours... It should give you an idea of the variety
of these kind of caterpillars and the moths they turn into...

Nice find and super images, dossy, well done...!

Thank you so much, William. I looked through the images. This particular one seems to have almost no markings except those eyes. But it does seem to be a type of moth caterpillar. I was fascinated by the varieties. Thanks again for the link!

 

[wizzard0003]

Thank you so much, William. I looked through the images. This particular one seems to have almost no markings except those eyes. But it does seem to be a type of moth caterpillar. I was fascinated by the varieties. Thanks again for the link!

You're welcome, dossy...! :smile:

It's hard to tell just which moth caterpillar it is because there are so many
moths that are related but slightly different than each other...

 

[dossy]

You're welcome, dossy...! :smile:

It's hard to tell just which moth caterpillar it is because there are so many
moths that are related but slightly different than each other...

I'm just hoping it stays around so I can follow its development. Call me crazy, but I've fallen in love with that face!

 

[wizzard0003]

I hope it does too and you get to see what kind of moth it becomes... :smile:

 

[defante]

Nice find! I don't know what kind it is though.

 

[dossy]

Nice find! I don't know what kind it is though.

Thanks!

 

[Butlerkid]

Excellent images! Good eye!

 

[Donna K]

I'm going with the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail caterpillar. I'm pretty sure that's the owner of that pretty little face!

 

[dossy]

Excellent images! Good eye!

Thanks Karen! It took me a while to find it again this morning. It just blends in so well with the leaves, and it seems to like to feed up-side-down from the underside of the leaf.

I'm going with the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail caterpillar. I'm pretty sure that's the owner of that pretty little face!

Thanks for the info, Donna! I'm happy I'm not the only one who loves that face!

 

[Nico C M]

I found this on my plant and thought it was some kind of pod. Then it moved, and I got real excited! I had my husband holding the branch to turn it, so there is some movement when I shot. Any information would be greatly appreciated.


Thanks for looking!

Hi Dossy
I hope you are not a racist :smile:, and like this pretty little creature just because it looks good, and not because it does something to your garden after it changes its looks.

I dont know its name, and I dont care, I think its a great picture with a story to tell, and its one I more than one´s look at.
For me that´s all that matters with an image :smile:
Nico

 

[SK Photo]

Oh my god.



please keep shooting this. wonderful

I want to see what emerges!

 

[dossy]

Hi Dossy
I hope you are not a racist :smile:, and like this pretty little creature just because it looks good, and not because it does something to your garden after it changes its looks.

I dont know its name, and I dont care, I think its a great picture with a story to tell, and its one I more than one´s look at.
For me that´s all that matters with an image :smile:
Nico

Thank you, Nico!

Oh my god.



please keep shooting this. wonderful

I want to see what emerges!

Thanks so much! I tracked it all morning, but this evening it disappeared. The plant that I found it on has bees and spiders, so I can't just jump in to look for it! I'm going to try again tomorrow. I really like this what-ever-it-is!

 

[turtile]

It's the Pluto Sphinx Moth, Xylophanes pluto

 

[dossy]

It's the Pluto Sphinx Moth, Xylophanes pluto

Thank you, John!

 

[wizzard0003]

It's the Pluto Sphinx Moth, Xylophanes pluto

Excellent, John, I think you nailed it...!

There are several versions of the caterpillar farther down on this page and
the green version definately matches this one...

http://www.silkmoths.bizland.com/xpluto.htm

Good job, John...! :smile:

 

[Donna K]

I agree with John. It is the Pluto Sphinx.