Wildlife Spotting

I do agree with Davidbygott, that this looks like Agrius cingulata. The patterning and color as well as the striping on the head all match. Agrius cingulata: http://bugguide.net/node/view/589601/bgimage http://bugguide.net/node/view/460031/bgimage Manduca rustica has a different color pattern. They also have small warts (they look like prickles to me) along the body, especially behind the head (see images in the links). http://bugguide.net/node/view/536185/bgimage http://bugguide.net/node/view/1004088/bgimage

I really believe the best thing to do is wait for the caterpillar to become a moth. As I already wrote, identification after color change can be difficult. We could waste our time going round and round on this - but there are far better things to do, and either way smikka91's going to have a lovely visitor!

Hello again :) While it looks a lot like M. sexta (which feeds exclusively on nightshade family plants), M. Rustica has a different appetite. Just like A. cingulata, they feed on species from flowers families that include Convolvulaceae - the Morning Glories. In fact, they feed on a wide variety of plants. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manduca_rustica

Thanks catgrin! From the A.cingulata side, I'd just like to offer an image of a larva I found a few years ago, which puzzled me too, but the experts decided it was this species. Also, I think A. cingulata is more associated with morning-glories than M. rustica. Let the jury decide :) http://bugguide.net/node/view/455313/bgimage

I do understand why you would provide the alternate ID, and believe either may prove to be right. Mid-change it's really hard to tell! I did not opt to provide A. cingulata before because that species looks to bear a longer horn, striping on color change doesn't seem to meet in the middle of the back as often as it does on M. rustica (color change has already begun there), and it lacks the strong white basic white striping shown by M. rustica. I do agree that A. cingulata has large spiracular markings, but that is a feature of color change - along with all the stripe colors. My provided link comparing before and after coloration shows this. At this time, I really can't change my original ID, but I also value yours. I wrote this to explain why I made and retain my choice.

With the large spiracular markings and the dark striping, I humbly suggest Agrius cingulata as an alternative.

You caught that caterpillar in the middle of dressing! It normally would be green all over - with no brown. The color sometimes changes when they get ready to pupate. Since yours is in mid-change, I'm offering a link to this blog which shows before and after color change pics. http://arizonabeetlesbugsbirdsandmore.blogspot.com/2014/10/a-walk-in-rock-disk-park.html