Giant Caterpillar

[evw659]

Came across this really neat caterpillar while biking the Lower Trail over the weekend. Picture is poor; this thing was huge, 4-5" length, nickel- quarter diameter. looked like something youd see in the Amazon.
Had to look it up, apparently its called a Hickory Horned Devil. From what I've read, they live in the treetops for much of the summer, then descend to pupate in the soil in late summer/early fall. Anybody ever come across one of these, is it a rare encounter?

Other pics are of a large limestone spring (maybe 5-8 cfs), 53 degrees.

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[DaveS]

I have seen them. In fact posted here years ago Mother of all green Weenies or something. Pretty cool to see. Look for well eaten Walnut leaves.

 

[Baron]

looks similar to tomato hornworm. Had allot of them on the farm.

 

[dc410]

I have also seen them. They are really cool critters. The caterpillar of the Regal Moth or Royal Walnut Moth.