If you grow grapes (Vitaceae spp) in your backyard in North America, you might encounter this strange, alien-looking caterpillar lurking among the vines, as I did. Eumorpha achemon is the Achemon Sphinx moth, a very large species of moth which is nocturnal and feeds on nectar. Although it is sometimes considered a pest of vineyards as a caterpillar, the adults are beneficial pollinators. I released this specimen back to its vine; hopefully it will successfully pupate into a gorgeous adult moth.
I was surprised by the caterpillar’s large size (see relative to the glove in the photo below). It is a relatively common species with a wide range across North America, but it can be rare to find at the edge of its range. This individual was located outside of Billings, Montana, where several specimens have been identified in the past.
