#elm sphinx

[pterouras]

I’m raising caterpillars again! Meet my elm sphinx caterpillars! They’re growing so fast rn

[onenicebugperday]

hi! i found this big caterpillar right inside my front door, and i was wondering if you knew what it was? it would occasionally twist side to side. my brother and i managed to get it into a cup and placed it outside (the temperatures are very agreeable right now so it should be okay). i live in Texas in the southern Great Plains if that helps.

A baby child! It's an elm sphinx moth caterpillar. Likely looking for a place to pupate. The twisting side to side was probably defensive thrashing. Glad they were safely released outside!

[peachynaturalist]

Moth heaven 😍

Imperial Moth, Eacles imperialis (top); Rosy Maple Moth, Dryocampa rubicunda (bottom); and Elm Sphinx, Ceratomia amyntor (right)

[onenicebugperday]

@tempest-in-ateapot submitted: Was eating my lunch in the shade of a building and looked over and saw this giant moth! Any idea what species my blind lunch date was? I’m from southern Ontario.

What a beautiful date! Lucky you. Looks like an elm sphinx, Ceratomia amyntor :)

[onenicebugperday]

@shadowy-seas​ submitted: Found this big pretty friend rest on a wall at my local gas station, it looks like a hawk moth but I'm not 100% sure

I live north of Houston Texas

It is indeed, looks like an elm sphinx. Very pretty! I hope they are having a good moth life...

[onenicebugperday]

@bearygentle​ submitted: A big baby on a big journey along the driveway!! (seriously it was about 2 inches long) Located in Michigan's upper peninsula, my best guess is a luna moth caterpillar(??)

Nope, it’s a sphinx moth! They almost always have that horn on their butt. This one in particular looks like an elm sphinx, based on those four little knobbies up near the head. Adults look like this:

Photo by sransom

[myvalentina]

Elm Sphinx moth - Ceratomia amyntor

[silverbird]

Elm Sphinx Moth (Ceratomia amyntor)

4/25/20, Alabama, USA