Hickory Horn Devil

I got a call from the Henry Stoltzfus family who live near us.  Their boys wanted to show me something they found in the woods.  It was a Hickory horn devil, the largest caterpillar we have around here.  They were afraid of it because of the way it looks but they are totally harmless.  This ugly caterpillar turns into the most beautiful moth in the spring - I filled a bucket with potting soil and in no time he buried himself to begin his change.  The first three pics are of the caterpillar that the Stoltzfus boys gave me, the last is a picture from pine mountain KY 2 years ago

Hickory Horn Devil on Hickory Leaves (host plant)

Hickory Horn Devil -  7 inches long

A face only a mother could love - the hickory horn devil

Royal Walnut Moth - adult of the Hickory Horn Devil caterpillar