I found this beauty the other day when I was watering the flower pots. Oh, he ate my viburnum right down to the quick--four plants total, but I don't care. It's the end of summer and I'm gonna dump them soon anyway. He was a growing boy (girl?) and he had to eat something, right?
I think he is a hawkmoth caterpillar--one that will blossom into a hummingbird moth, which is a great find. If you have ever seen them, they look just like hummingbirds, but they are moths. Kinda cool.
This was probably the biggest caterpillars I have ever seen. I held him on my middle finger so that you could judge just exactly how tubby and long this little guy was. And believe it or not, he actually got bigger since this photo was taken.
And my special prize for sacrificing my flowers for his belleh? He bit me. Yep, he and his wee little scissor-like incisors apparently thought I was food and took a nip. While it didn't hurt, it did surprise me a bit and I yelped. Em, who was taking the photo, ran into the house.
She's helpful like that.
23 comments:
Those hungry fellows don't last very long around here.
That guy gives me the heebie-jeebies! And I would have reacted the way Em did!!
Giant green caterpillar bites..isn't that what causes zombies?!?!?!
I can't believe you touched it. It's yucky!!!!! I didn't know they bit either!
Gotta give you your props - if I saw that thing I would be off in the opposite direction so fast - You picked it up and held it? It bit you? Ack!
We had a hummingbird moth one summer. Totally awesome. It liked our trumpet vines and it was so involved in eating the nectar that you could walk right up to it and it didn't fly away.
Wow- what a beauty! I'm not sure I've ever seen one of those.
Good Grief he's a monster. So sorry about your plant. We have been dealing with slugs in our strawberries and snakes int he veggies..ugh smooches!
I'm even more helpful-I would've run into the house BEFORE taking a picture!
He really is a big one. Finding caterpillars is fun, but I never seem to be able to find them. I like the last part of your post, "ran into the house."
wow, that things huge. I've never heard of a hummingbird moth. Would love to see what one of those looks like
Great - carnivorous caterpillars. Just what I needed to know.
Good for you, Lin. Your daughter and about half of your commenters seem to be a bit squeamish, eh, wot?
He probably peed on you too.
WOW...that is one big Mutha caterpillar! I have not heard of hummingbird moths, but they sure look cool! Hope th white is not deadly! LOL!
I meant to say that I hope his BITE is not deadly! Sheesh these computer word correcting programs can be SO annoying!
Lin!! You are such a brave woman. I would never get near a caterpillar even if it's a teeny weeny dot. I was bitten by one very hairy caterpillar when i was a lil girl (boy it hurt n itched like crazeee) and i declared war with all caterpillars ever since.
That caterpillar is hugeeee... i would have fainted right away.
That was very mean of him to give you the bitey!
Yikes, they bite?! I've had some hummingbird moths in my garden lately. They also come from the tomato horn worm.
Chuck--They don't around here either, so I was checking on him constantly. He's gone now--but I hope not in someone's tummy!
Veronica--No way! Veronica, I'm gonna have to toughen you up, pally.
Melodie--I think so. Bwahhhhhaaa!
Violet--We used to raise monarch caterpillars, so I'm used to holding those extra fat guys. They don't "bite" per se, they are just used to munching everything for food. I guess he thought I was lunch.
Grace--Oh no, he was lovely! Now spiders and such--nope, not touching those. But these guys are harmless. He didn't bite as much as was tasting me--thought I was a giant leaf.
Mary Ann--They are cool, especially when you see them for the first time. They look and act like hummingbirds, so it catches your eye. I hope this guy makes it to moth!
Sharkey--I never have--unless you count tomato worms. I think they are the same thing.
Katherine--EEEK! Snakes??! We don't get those, thank goodness. I didn't care about the flowers--they are pretty much done anyway. It was good to see someone enjoy them.
Helene--Really?! They aren't scary--just fat guys who eat a lot. Then they transform into something beautiful. Gotta love caterpillars!
Ratty--You have to know where to look. Find out the host plant for butterflies and then look under the leaves. Such little treasures under there. :)
Ann--Click on the link to see his photo. They are really like hummingbirds. I have never seen such a big fat caterpillar, so I was very excited at the find.
Pricilla--Nah, he was just thinking I was a leaf--like he needed to eat more!
Vanilla--How can you be scared of caterpillars???! Sheesh. The pallies are a bunch of babies!! ;) Hee! Hee!
Nellie--I think they just poop, so I escaped that part. Whew!
Hot Rocks--He was BIG! That's what I loved about him. And just when I thought he couldn't get bigger, he did! The bite didn't break the skin--he was mostly just thinking I was something to eat.
Nessa--So you are traumatized by a fuzzy caterpillar???! :O (giggle) I don't think they are mean--just hungry!
Daisy--No kidding! I yelped and Emma got very skerred. She is a chicken.
Jennifer--I think this guy is a tomato horn worm. I put him on my tomato plant and now I don't see him anymore. :( I hope his is turning into a moth now.
Hmmm... this worm looks familiar. I can't find mine like it. He must have crawled all the way to your house! :)
xo Catherine
Gross! That's a nasty tomato worm! They are even nastier when they are squished (don't ask). At least he didn't poop on you.
Awh, great reference:) Love a good find like that! I can't wait to have a back yard with flowers and critters!
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