The Elm Sphinx Larva

This afternoon one of the children found this big green catapiller crawling in the grass. We put it in a bucket and took it inside to look it up. Turns out that it is a Elm Sphinx larva, sometimes called a Four-horned Sphinx because it has four spikes above its head, it also has a spike on its tail.

I was hesitant to pick it up after reading someone had been bitten hard enough to draw blood by one of these guys.

Ready to let it go. 

I'm always amazed by Gods creativity.  The catapiller would be well camouflaged on the elm leaf (shown on the left), which is their primary food source. 

When it's ready, it will crawl down the tree and burrow into the ground. This is a picture I found of what the pupa looks like. 

Next spring the moth will emerge.  With a wingspan of up to 4 1/2 inches, it's pretty big. :) 

"O LORD, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches." Psalm 104:24