Screaming Caterpillar

I've been looking for an answer to this for about 20 years ... long before the Simpsons episode involving the screamapillar (which floods my googling everytime I attempt to find an answer) was ever dreamed of.

About 20 years ago I was at summer camp in East Texas waiting for my parents to pick me up on the last day at camp. I was walking under some trees looking for bugs, snakes, etc. when I heard a tiny screaming sound at my feet. I continued to walk around and heard it intermittently as I paced. Finally, I noticed that as I stepped on a specific stick, the sound would shortly follow. I looked around the stick and saw something that still haunts me to this day. (I sometimes wonder if I didn't accidentally ingest some fungus)

The caterpillar-like creature was about an inch and a half long and about half an inch in diameter. It was flesh colored and its skin was leathery. It had a single horn that was a darker yellow-brown color. If I poked it with a stick it would bend itself back and forth and emit a screeching sound that was unholy. I showed it to one of my counselors and for about an hour we stared at it and poked it occasionally. Eventually, I had to go.

Years later I happened to run into that same counselor and he had no idea what I was talking about. Weird.

The closest I've found picture wise was of a sphinx moth caterpillar, but the color wasn't quite right, and I saw no mention of the demonic sonic defense mechanism.

So ... psychedelic summer camp dreamstate? or well-known but little documented species?

Thanks.

Contributed by muaddib on 16 September, 2008 - 3:56pm

I googled hissing caterpillar

I googled hissing caterpillars on youtube and this came up. I thought of swallowtail caterpillars when someone mentioned tentacles. Freaky - I had no idea.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NloewGyl3QE

… Lennox Saunders, 1 September, 2016 - 2:11pm

Screaming Caterpillars

My 11-Yr. old grandson was trying to kill what he called "silkworms" yesterday. They are the caterpillars that make those big webs in trees this time of year, and apparently on the ground also. He didn't know any better and took some concentrated bug killer and poured on the web. He said they screamed and it totally freaked him out! He ran inside and told his mother. When I called him a few minutes later, he was still extremely upset. I had never heard of such a thing so I Googled "Screaming Caterpillars" and this page came up. How interesting! Just sent the link to his mom.

… Dionne, 29 August, 2016 - 7:25pm

Probably not a walnut sphinx

I raised Walnut sphinxes from eggs before and they never change color. They stay green their whole life. I bet you saw an Abbott's sphinx. They will, when poked or pinched, whip their heads forward and hiss. Only the younger instars have a horn though...

… Stephen Tapsak, 3 August, 2013 - 2:03pm

Walnut Sphinx (Amorpha juglandis)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amorpha_juglandis

When attacked by a bird, the caterpillar produces a high-pitched whistle by expelling air from pair of spiracles in its abdomen. Also scares the crap out of humans the first few times.

… justcametosay, 2 August, 2013 - 1:52pm

ME TOO!!

I live in Arkansas and while I was digging in my flower bed I heard a terrible screaming/screeching sound, I look down and see exactly what you describe - a nasty worm looking thing swaying back and forth screaming at me! It really freaked me out but now I'm very curious to know exactly what this was but like you, all I have found on Google pertains to the Simpsons. I looked up a Walnut Sphinx and I don't think this is what I saw. It was a skin color translucent white all over and I remember it having about four tentacle looking things where the mouth would be. I agree with you though, it is haunting!

… PITA1111, 29 September, 2012 - 6:36pm

Walnut sphinx

My first though, although I haven't yet found one. I would love to though, the thought of a screaming caterpillar...Wagner's describes it as a "hiss" or "whistle"

… catman529, 21 September, 2008 - 10:47am

Walnut sphinx maybe?

In Wagner's book, he says the caterpillar whistles or hisses when touched. And it has a horn. It looks green in the photo but lots of caterpillars change colors when about to pupate, or even have color variations. The experts might want to comment or expand on this response, because I am not a bug professional.
Anyway, I would love to see - and hear- that species. That was a cool experience for you!

… sbannister, 16 September, 2008 - 8:37pm

and...

here is the link to our guide page.

… Lynette Elliott, 20 September, 2008 - 11:10am

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