Camouflage! There are FOUR!!! All gone!

[Edwina's Secretary]

I just went out to check on progress and could hardly find the guy! Took me quite a few minutes....


(A face only a mother could love!)

Not to worry....he is too high and too hidden for our boy Eddie.....

[Blue_Frog]

Thats a cute, fat caterpiller you have yourself there!

I think your friend might be either the "Tomato Hornworm" (Manduca
quinquemaculata L.) , which would turn into a Five-Spotted Hawk Moth (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manduca_quinquemaculata) -- or a "Tobacco Hornworm" (Manduca sexta L.) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tobacco_hornworm).

Heres some more strange-green caterpillars (i've always been facinated in insects!)

http://whatsthatbug.com/caterpillar_2.html (and)
http://bugguide.net/node/view/4747

[Freckles]

Could you please take a ruler and measure the guy?
It's difficult to tell how big he is. Thanks,

[Killearn Kitties]

A Tomato Hornworm??? OMG - keep it away from Lizbud!

[Karen]

My brain is differently wired than much of humanity, I guess - I immediately saw the caterpiggle, then wondered was kind of plant it was, but was also loooking for one of the E-cats - until I read the text!

[sirrahbed]

I am like Karen I think - because I did see the critter right away, but I agree that it is excellent and amazing camouflage!!

It really does look like one of those moths that Blue Frog posted - do you think?? Maybe Freckles will have more ideas once she knows the size...

Could you perhaps clip off a branch or two with it and save it to a ventilated jar so that you can keep watching as it becomes a cocoon...pupa....chrysalis (whateever you call that stage) and then becomes moth or betterfly?? I used to do that when I was a girl - it was so interesting and then fun to release

[Barbara]

Oh- I never saw a cat-a-pillar like this- do you think a kitten will come out

[lizbud]

A Tomato Hornworm??? OMG - keep it away from Lizbud!

Will it ever end? LOL Seriously though, if you look at the first pic
right about in the middle is what looks like a sort of praying mantis type
insect. Does anyone else see it?

[Edwina's Secretary]

It is slightly over 3 inches long. Sorry, I didn't get a circumference....

Deb...the way this guy eats....I would have to put more than a couple branches to feed it!



And I gave up smoking years ago....no tobacco here!

[Bengalz]

Wow I sure hope we get to see the butterfly

[Maya & Inka's mommy]

OMG, I have NEVER seen such a huge caterpillar!!! That will be a huge butterfly!!

[Edwina's Secretary]

How long is this guy going to be at the buffet?????

[Barbara]

It's difficult to judge from here- do you think he has been growing since you watch him?

[dragonfly]

Great catepillar, that last pic is realy great, I would frame it. Blue Frog that first website was great, I think I'll add that one to my faves.

[Edwina's Secretary]

No wonder it seemed the guy moved so much...there are four! Can you see at least THREE in this photo?



(Right, left and two toward the center....)