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big brown caterpillar with white spots (Pandorus Sphinx caterpillar)

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Pandorus Sphinx caterpillar
by: Moni

Connecticut
This is a Pandorus Sphinx caterpillar. They come in several colors(someone else sent in a photo of a green one) of not only orange and green but reddish and brownish. Sphinx larva in general are called the horntail or hornworm larva since they have a tail.The last instar or molted stage of this caterpillar looses its tail and has an eye spot in its place.

This is a beautiful and spectacular larva. They do eat grape leaves, porcelain vine (Ampelopsis sp) as well as Virginia creeper.
When you see these large larva moving, they are on their way to find a place to pupate. They overwinter as pupa in the soil.

The adult moths are gorgeous and greenish. They have a long proboscis or feeding tube for gathering nectar from flowers. They look a little like small hummingbirds feeding at dusk.
Here are some photos of this insect
http://bugguide.net/node/view/3937/bgimage

Read more: http://www.simplegiftsfarm.com/large-orange-catepillar-pandorus-sphinx-caterpillar-comments.html#ixzz1WNWEjPWJ

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