Green caterpillar for identification

Sarah Jane · #1 (**permalink**) 20-09-2009, 06:46 AM

I saw this caterpillar in my garden last weekend and would love to know what it is:

Can anyone help?

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RobSutton · #2 (**permalink**) 20-09-2009, 06:57 AM

The spike is actually on the tail and it's a hawkmoth caterpillar - not 100% sure which particular species but possibly a Poplar Hawkmoth - what plant was it living on?

peter2009 · #3 (**permalink**) 20-09-2009, 07:17 AM

Yes Rob was right,it is a Poplar Hawk-Moth.
peter

Lance Morgan · #4 (**permalink**) 20-09-2009, 01:05 PM

Confirm Poplar Hawk about to shed its skin I think.

Sarah Jane · #5 (**permalink**) 22-09-2009, 06:29 AM

Thank you to you all!

I hadn't known what it had been living on, because I found it displaced having been pruning, but returned it to the most likely place, which I think was correct. Having now looked up Poplar hawk moth, I can see clearly that that is what it is, so thank you. I had originally thought that the spike was on its tail end, but then mistakenly thought it was on its head, because it looked as if it was feeding from that end!