Brown-hooded Owlet caterpillar?

Here is a link that might be useful: Bug Guide

Good guide you posted - thanks! That is definitely the caterpillar. But how disappointing that it's going to turn into what is probably a garden pest, and not a very attractive one at that!

Not sure it's a pest. Can you let me know where you read that? Do you have loads of them defoliating something? It's beautiful now, and it can provide food for birds and other predators.

I look at pests in a different way. I leave them alone now. Why?

I know that my yard has a lot of birds, wasps, beneficial insects, etc. in it to keep things in check.

Having some pests in numbers helps to keep predators busy with them, and takes some pressure off my butterfly caterpillars, but I will have to admit, I never have any pests here nor have I have I in my other gardens, except for Japanese Beetles. I chalk that up to having a healthy population of beneficials.

Bernergrrl - can't seem to find much info on this particular owlet moth - no evidence that the moth itself does any damage, and I have no objection to the caterpillar eating some of my Michaelmas daisies - plenty to go around! So he's just fine where he is. :)

A very beautiful caterpillar, and a very beautiful photo.