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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Butterflies and Moths (Lepidoptera) » Silkworm, Sphinx, and Royal Moths (Bombycoidea) » Sphinx Moths (Sphingidae) » Macroglossinae » Macroglossini » Proserpinus » Pacific Green Sphinx Moth - Hodges#7872 (Proserpinus lucidus)
Photo#186059
Mystery Caterpillar - Proserpinus lucidus
Copyright © 2008 Robyn Waayers

Mystery Caterpillar - Proserpinus lucidus
Culp Valley, Anza Borrego Desert, San Diego County, California, USA
March 21, 2008
Size: 35 mm
Found this caterpillar among low-growing desert vegetation.
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Contributed by Robyn Waayers on 29 May, 2008 - 10:19am
Last updated 4 March, 2015 - 2:09pm

Moved
Moved from Terloo Sphinx.
… john and jane balaban, 4 March, 2015 - 2:09pm login or register to post comments

Proserpinus lucidus
I'm pretty sure this is not Proserpinus terlooii, but instead is Proserpinus lucidus. Terlooii is not known from CA. (and this sighting is not from the border with AZ, which might have possibly made it more likely to be a range extension or something)

Although I am not personally familar with terlooii, I do not think this larva matchs terlooii as well as it does lucidus. Notice, for example, the yellowish curving line around each spiracle marking on terlooii see or . Also, notice the prominent "eye" on the back of this larva, I think terlooii seems to have a little more of a horn, and less of the black markings which combine to make the striking eye on lucidus. Lastly, note the distinctly reddish head and thoratic plate, none of the terlooii photos I looked at had this.
… Josiah Gilbert, 4 March, 2015 - 12:30pm login or register to post comments

Moved
Moved from Sphinx Moths.
… john and jane balaban, 26 September, 2009 - 4:38pm login or register to post comments

Moved
Moved from Butterflies and Moths.
… john and jane balaban, 24 July, 2008 - 7:37pm login or register to post comments

Not an ID but
check out this one
… John R. Maxwell, 29 May, 2008 - 10:28am login or register to post comments

 
Looks like close relative...s
Looks like a close relative...so maybe a sphinx moth larva?
… Robyn Waayers, 29 May, 2008 - 10:35am login or register to post comments

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