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Butterfly Garden Insects

What is this caterpillar?

8 years ago

What kind of butterfly/caterpillar is this?

Featured Answer

Jay 6a Chicago

8 years ago

Not sure I agree. The horn on this cat is blue/black, not orange/brown like on the tomato hornworm. And tomato hornworms don't have the yellow stripes running alongside the blue/black stripes. This looks more like a Laurel Sphinx cat imo.

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Comments (6)

weed30 St. Louis
8 years ago
It's a tomato hornworm, and will become a medium/large moth.
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MissSherry
8 years ago
Yes, it's definitely a laurel sphinx, which is poorly named, because they use members of the olive family. It's a beautiful caterpillar, undoubtedly ready to make its pupa underground.

Sherry
Jay 6a Chicago
8 years ago
I got that info from your Peterson's guide Sherry. I knew they had a nice little section about Sphinx moths and cats ha ha.
rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
8 years ago
April, those are terrific pictures, thanks. The colors are just great.
MissSherry
8 years ago
Jay, I told you that little book would come in handy! :)

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