Observation date: July 06, 2018
Submitted by: Roamccoy
Specimen type: Photograph
Observation notes: Burrowed into ground, big rain storm day before, fencing is covered with Virginia Creeper
Status: Resident
Verified by: A_baldini
Verified date: July 24, 2018
Coordinator notes: This is indeed a sphinx moth caterpillar; more specifically, a mature Achemon Sphinx caterpillar burrowing into the ground to pupate. Being in the grape family (Vitaceae), Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus sp.) is a known host plant of the Achemon Sphinx, and is almost certainly what this one was eating.
