Sphinx moth caterpillars: Green giants in wandering stage
Fast-forward 10.5 months to July 1, 2012. I had nearly given up hope on the emergence of the moth from the chrysalis a.k.a. the "eclosion," but it finally happened! We became the proud parents, so to speak, of a Pandora sphinx moth (Eumorpha pandora), a stunning, velvety, forest-green moth with delicate pink highlights.
Considering the abundance of the sphinx moth caterpillar's primary foods — wild grape and Virginia creeper — it's odd that the moth is not well-documented in Minnesota. According to local expert Ron Huber, there are only about eight records from the metro and 16 statewide.
There are many other large moth species whose giant larvae can also be found this time of year. Identification can be challenging but fun. Poking through internet photos is a good start, and if you can pick up a field guide, I recommend David Wagner's Caterpillars of Eastern North America.
More on:
- Pandora sphinx moth from Wikipedia and Ecobirder
- Caterpillar identification