big brown caterpillar - Xylophanes tersa

Moved

Moved from ID Request.

… squidpillow, 19 October, 2009 - 10:28am

looks like

Tersa Sphinx - Hodges#7890 (Xylophanes tersa)

i dont know what that scabbyness on it is from, maybe a fungus..

… Edna Woodward, 19 October, 2009 - 1:14am

very interesting. so the whit

very interesting. so the white coloration could be a fungus? if it helps to figure out what it is I have a bunch more pictures on my website here: http://www.worldwidefieldguide.com/index.php?/category/610

I didnt want to flood the guide with all of these but some are very closeup and may give some clues.

… squidpillow, 19 October, 2009 - 10:35am

It does look like a fungus.

Poor caterpillar! Did you decided to rear it or leave it where it was? It'd be interesting to see if it makes it through pupation to adulthood of if perhaps this growth gets worse. Those are some nice pictures though. Perhaps one of the editors who is good with fungi will make a comment on it and want you to post the pictures.

… Natalie Hernandez, 19 October, 2009 - 2:30pm

I would be happy to post any

I would be happy to post any of those pictures if it would be helpful. I did not rear it and found it at the Botanical Gardens so I doubt I will see it again. Too bad!

… squidpillow, 19 October, 2009 - 2:37pm

County

A quick Google search shows that it is on Fairfax county. It is always a good idea to fill in that field so that it can show in Google maps when you use the advanced search. I suggest that you do the same for your other submissions.

… Beatriz Moisset, 4 November, 2009 - 11:22am

Sphinx Moth

I'm not sure which genus, but I think its Xylophanes. There are a few people on here that are great with this family though so I'm sure they'll correct me or confirm :)

http://bugguide.net/node/view/229/bgimage

… Natalie Hernandez, 19 October, 2009 - 12:43am

thanks for the info.

… squidpillow, 19 October, 2009 - 10:34am