Help in identifying odd creature

[Little Dave]

This evening I found an odd thing in my garden. It was about 2.5" long 0.5" wide and had what only could be described as a smiley face. It was a bit catterpillarish but still not sure exactly what it was. I have a picture but am unable to post it here. I can email or SMS the picture if someone can post it

Thanks

[Japveesix]

Thanks for sending me the picture Dave, I'l put it up here so everyone else can see:



Does look like a caterpillar of some sort, but there's definitely something odd about it.....

[onesickpuppy]

[Little Dave]

Has now been identified as an Elephant Hawk Moth Caterpillar. Freaky little bugger!

[S1_RS]

A few friends on facebook have found those as well. Never heard of them persoanlly but apparently they're quite common in certain parts of the uk.

[Little Dave]

This shows it pretty well

http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=elephant+hawk+mot...

[blindswelledrat]

Okay.
I think it was probably en elephant hawk moth caterpillar then

[Nightmare]

i know something about them that I cant reported or recorded anywhere

what I can find is that the claim is there are two distinct morphs - the more common brown one (such as in your link) and much less usually a bright green variant



thing is...its wrong....they can change colour between the two forms if you change what they're living on/eating (from bogbean to fushia or willow herb) they go into a sort of cocoon and then re-emerge a totally different colour.