Help to identify a caterpillar

[Cheryl]

I wonder if anyone could identify a caterpillar we found in our garden last night?

It's about 3 inches long, smooth - almost slug like, pale brown, 6 "segments" with 2 dots either side per segment. The front section had what my son describes as an aardvaak nose in that it was tapered and it seemed to be using it to sense where it was going. The last segment was smooth and was a darker brown to the main body.

We took some pictures but they're a bit blurred but could post one if that would help?

Many thanks.

Cherylx

[harasseddad]

Sounds like an Elephant Hawk moth - the "aardvaak nose" is what gives it it's name, being like an elephant's trunk.

[Mr Mag00]

mm not sure about elephant hawk moth did it look like this
[IMG][/IMG]

[Cheryl]

No sorry - it was definitely brown - I'll get my son to upload his pictures and I'll post one - thanks anyway

[Cheryl]

Right these are the pictures - well nearly- of the beasty we found yesterday. Sorry but they were taken by my 11 yr old son so they are really blurred but hope you can make it out.

The front of the caterpillar seems to be a kind of probiscus which moves side to side as if it is sensing where it is going and it moves really quickly in an undulating fashion. I really hope to be able to identify it and I really apologise for the quality of the piccies.

[aeshna5]

Not that bad a photo. It seems to lack a tail, which should make it the caterpillar of the Small Elephant Hawkmoth + the colour looks good for this too! Nice find.

[GuyF]

This is actually the same species as the caterpillar in the picture Mr Mag00 showed, an Elephant Hawkmoth, they come in green and brown forms. The adult moths are really spectacular.
Guy

[Cheryl]

Originally Posted by aeshna5

Not that bad a photo. It seems to lack a tail, which should make it the caterpillar of the Small Elephant Hawkmoth + the colour looks good for this too! Nice find.

REALLY????? Well I'll be looking that up and will definitely be looking out for that moth.

It's quite exciting finding something a little bit different - I remember when we first saw a Humming Bird Moth in our garden a few years ago and we often see them now.

Thanks everyone I'm really glad I've found this site

[Cazzie]

Nice one! I'm jealous as I've yet to find a hawkmoth caterpillar in these parts

[aeshna5]

Originally Posted by GuyF

This is actually the same species as the caterpillar in the picture Mr Mag00 showed, an Elephant Hawkmoth, they come in green and brown forms. The adult moths are really spectacular.
Guy

Mr. Magoo's photo clearly shows a tail, whereas Cheryl's doesn't appear to have one. I know there are brown + green forms of Elephant HM, but this species always has a tail. Small Elephant HM larva lacks the tail so unless I'm missing it (the tail!) in the photo, it is the latter species.