Yesterday, Sept 15, 2021, I discovered this unusual(to me) 4-inch long extraordinarily colored caterpillar crossing the gravel county road at my rural mailbox. Upon inspection I was surprised to find over a dozen similar creatures differing only in size. I collected 5 and hauled them to my home for closer inspection after which I did some computer research. The animal in the photo is the larval stage of the leafy spurge hawkmoth. The species was found in southern Europe, especially France and Spain and countries to the south and east to Asia. A few apparently were found in southern England as well. The favorite food of this creature is the invasive noxious weed, leafy spurge, which is a substantial problem in the north central states and southern Canada. This moth was the first biological control attempted for leafy spurge and was approved for introduction in 1965. I found several records of introductions that began in 1966. The caterpillar stage feeds on the leaves and tender branches of leafy spurge and in years of substantial populations can defoliate the plants. Unfortunately, test results from Colorado suggest that there is little permanent damage to the plants. This is the 22nd summer that I have lived at this location but the first time I have seen these caterpillars. My small 20 acre piece is heavily vegetated, mostly with native plant species, some of which we have reintroduced after a prior century of grazing. My land is bordered on three sides by native prairie pastures that are grazed by cattle in summer and on the fourth by row crops of corn or beans. Those pastures have numerous patches of leafy spurge and I suppose the hawkmoth caterpillars had fed on the spurge plants for the past several weeks and are now moving to adjacent areas with much organic debris such as leaves and dead grass under which they can burrow and then pupate. They will spend the winter in the pupal stage and then emerge in about June as large heavy bodied hawkmoths which will lay up to 150 sticky eggs on leafy spurge plants that are just beginning to bloom. I imagine that the hawkmoths had been here for the entire period we have lived here but perhaps in much smaller numbers as we would have been unlikely to have missed this critter in prior years if they had been as abundant as they seem to be this year. I released the 5 I had collected near the south edge of my property where I have a small patch of leafy spurge that I have not been able to eradicate. Perhaps their offspring will assist me next summer. If someone can blow up the photo it might be possible to see the colorful markings, the numerous real legs and prolegs and the 1/2 inch long "horn" on the rear end.

Cool stuff Jim !

Here you go, Jim,

That's really a big Wow! Definitely one of nature's beauties! Great post!

Looks deadly!!

Fascinating! Thanks for the post (and Sharon - thanks for the close-up). That is a beautiful critter.

Jack

Thanks for the pics, Sharon. The upper animal you show seems to be the same species as the one I saw here. The lower photo MIGHT be of a different species of hawkmoth or perhaps is just colored differently. There are many different species worldwide and quite a few that are native to North America. All have similar life cycles and many are quite specific which plants they wish to feed on.

I knew you'd like this, Jack !

Jim, I tried to zoom in on your shot, but it was just too small and became unfocused the more I zoomed.

If you find another one, and can get it in light and make it smile at you real close , but still be in focus, I can do things with that on my art program

I can almost see salvelinus fontinalis inhaling that beauty !

Just got off the phone with the person currently in charge of biocontrol for South Dakota Dept Agriculture. The introduction of the spurge hawkmoth was far before his time and he was unsure if/when it was introduced in South Dakota. He told me that the caterpillars I observed are commonly found in spurge BUT that because of their size and coloration, they are heavily fed on by several species of birds which seem to limit their population size and their effectivness as a control species.

That would make sense. Seems like a lousy adaptation

Ah, yes, those colourful Brookies !

I wonder if pheasants eat them?

I'll bet they do and sandhills too

Make a dandy panfish bait!

Sharon, have you ever drawn/painted a brookie?

I'd LOVE to see your rendition of these beauties!!!

They are absolutely God's "Works of Art!"

Those look like a psychedelic tomato worm.

White Marlin, yes I have seen them, gorgeous fish. In the water, they are at their brightest, as most colourful fish are.

I haven't done one yet, but someday, hopefully I will be commissioned to try my best capturing all that brilliance. Thank you , W. M.

Please allow me to purchase the VERY First print!

(I'm not a wealthy man, or I'd commission it myself)

I will remember , Marlin