WILD CHERRY SPHINX MOTH (Sphinx drupiferarum)

[WillFolsom]

I was wandering around in Meadowlark Gardens this morning when several of the horticultural staff ran up and told me that had found a giant caterpillar. The results was this Wild Cherry Sphinx Moth caterpillar (one of the staff went back to the Visitors Center and got our guide to caterpillars). Unusual, since we don't see them and they would be hard to miss.

[butterfly_effect]

Now that's one BIG caterpillar... looks similar in size to the Atlas Moth caterpillar or bigger!