It is an Elm Sphinx caterpillar. It is also known as a Four-Horned Caterpillar. It's about the length of my middle finger and is very friendly. He (or she) was on a walk-about looking for an appropriate place to pupate for the winter. In the Spring it will emerge as a Elm Sphinx Moth. As you can see, it will be fairly large!
But before it emerges as a moth it will need to pupate. Compared to our already pupated American Dagger Moth caterpillar who has spun a lovely cocoon for himself, this caterpillar is a burrower. It will tunnel down under the leaf litter into the soil and compact itself and finally create a hard shelled pupa that is quite spectacular.
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| This is from a close relative still in Sphinx family. I was unable to find an exact Elm Sphinx pupa. |
