Help.....weird garden monster

[Hot_Potato]

Wondering if there's someone who could help please.....let me explain.

A friend of mine, who I don't know personally but have met thru another group that I belong to - found a rather large 'creature' in her garden this morning which is unlike anything she & her husband had ever seen before and she posted a picture of it into the group.

Now no-one in my 'small' group knows what it is other than it's probably a caterpillar of some sort and I have a picture of it but don't know how to 'post pics' in here I'm afraid.

When I've wanted to post the odd pic before, Emma Jane (EJ) has kindly done them for me after I've e-mailed a pic on to her first but as EJ is away on holiday at the moment, I can't do this!

Is there anyone please that I can e-mail (if you'd be willing) a picture to so that it can be posted maybe into this thread or wherever appropriate in the hope that someone might know what it is and what it might eventually - grow into!

Thanks very much in advance. Maybe someone could pm me with their e-mail address.

Maggie (H.P.)

[Hot_Potato]

[Palustris]

PM on its way!

[Palustris]

Here they are and I really think I know what it is too!

[sarah]

 :o. its hard to get a sense of scale,it looks humungous.  i have no idea what it is- its not a hawk moth caterpillar is it?  do tell.

[Gadfium]

Brown version of the Elephant-Hawk moth caterpillar? e.g. http://www.whatsthiscaterpillar.co.uk/, or here http://www.javajane.co.uk/Hawk%20Sphinx%20moths/slides/elephant_hawkmoth4.html

[Svea]

looks similar to the silk caterpillars i saw not long ago

[Carol]

It looks similar to this, posted last year at this time.

Elephant Hawk Moth

[Palustris]

That is what I thought too!

[Hot_Potato]

just want to thank all of you for your answers, especially Palustris who posted the pics for me (if only I could work out how to do it ???)

Since I first asked and the pics posted.....the feeling too within my other group - which isn't a gardening group btw - just a group for others like me who've got past the big 50!!......some research by one of the others has also led to our being convinced that it probably is the elephant hawk moth.

It's certainly a monster and when my friends 'tried' to measure it this morning - when it was almost stretched out.....it was about 4 inches long!

thanks again - H.P.

[deboydoyd]

It is--used to collect them from rose-bay-willow- herb as a youngster and look after them till emerged a an adult moth.

[Robert_Brenchley]

I get them on evening primrose, which self-seeds all over the plot.

[prink13]

Anyone remember the film "tremors", seems familiar¬ :D