Caterpillar of the Day: Neococytius [cluentius?]

This caterpillar was observed at the San Gerardo Station in the ACG. I saw this individual twice, so I have photos from both the pre-penultimate and ultimate instars. Another giant Sphingidae. This specimen thrashed its anterior half quite violently when it was pinched with forceps (especially on Aug 26). In the late instars these guys get to be >100 mm long.

Neococytius [cluentius?] (Sphingidae) Aug 15 2011 - Pre-penultimate instar

Neococytius [cluentius?] (Sphingidae) Aug 26 2011 - Ultimate instar

Neococytius [cluentius?] (Sphingidae) Aug 26 2011 - Ultimate instar 

Neococytius [cluentius?] (Sphingidae) Aug 26 2011 - Ultimate instar 

It seems like the white could make these guys blend in to the foliage by resembling the streaks of sunlight that pass through the canopy. Many predators use edge detection to recognise prey items, so this colour pattern could also help break up the outline of the caterpillar when it is sitting on a leaf.

The pupa is a typical looking for a Sphingidae (photo from the ACG database):

This caterpillar will eventually grow up to look like this (photo from Wikipedia.org):

Just another great example of a species where the caterpillar is more beautiful than the adult!