Whoa. Wild Caterpiller

Fab Pic GT :)

Agree with Jacquue

Wier looking caterpiller

Thank you. I had to touch the non-barbed end to make sure it was alive. I didn't believe it at first glance. I'll do some investigating and find out what I can about it. Dangerous looking isn't it Homebird?

I don't know. SMooth and shiny is a little creepier to me. :-)

It is some kind of hornworm caterpillar GT. They belong to the Sphinx moth or Hawk moths. It looks very similar to the tomato hornworm which can grow 4 or 5 inches long but the markings on the side are different.

Interesting. (Sent me on a Google) The sphinx is in the family hemaris with our native hummingbird clearwing moth, all with little hornworm caterpillars! So I would guess I saw both forms of our clearwing moth this year. :-) Thank you Gilli. Led me right there. :-)

No problem. I just learned that the sphinx and hummingbird moths were related too GT. I was googling the White lined Hummingbird moth when I saw one in the garden in August and found the hornworms etc. :o)

:-) That is just what I did. :-)

I haven't seen any larvae but I have pics of the moth...they really are amazing.

I had one through for the first time this summer myself Lori. They really are beauties.

Wow, what a great looking caterpillar. My spider would love this......

LOL. Thanks. I'm sure it would, but I'd be protecting those hummingbird moths, we don't have many.

I have had 2 in my back yard in the last few days can anyone tell me if they are dangerous to pets as I have 2 very inquisitive terriers luckily I have retrieved them & put them into my neighbours garden which is where I suppose they came from they were quite fat & around 3inches or so long

sorry I forgot to mention that I was referring to the moth type caterpillar at the top of this page

I bought a tobacco horn worm at a pet store they were on sale as lizard treats! bought one for $1.75..and brought it home...at the time didn't know what type of hornworm it was because it was an exotic turquoise colour. Looked up a firm that makes food for exotic larvae and found that the reason the worms were turquoise is that they were being fed silk worm chow...I put the larva in the garden after exposing it to tomato plants and some nicotiana ..it chose the nicotiana so I guessed it must be a tobacco hornworm...I left it there to feed and to finally pupate...(I think this takes place in the soil) so will be careful digging next spring around the spot.) haven't seen it lately so guess it's ok... last time I looked it was consuming lots of nicotiana leaves. As far as being harmful to dogs...some insects exude a bitter gall when they feel threatened...it's just to discourage; I don't think it's toxic...but it's good to err on the side of caution.. Putting them out of the animal's reach was probably a very good thing. the moths are lovely things to watch and nectar feeders ergo they are probably pollinators too.