big, green, squishy

While doing Amelanchier nantucketensis surveys today (a rare species; we're seeing how it responds to fire and mowing management techniques), I suddenly came across this massive sphinx moth caterpillar. It was easily 8cm long (or about 3 inches) and quite fat. The white things on its head are probably eggs from some parasitic wasp. We suspect that they'll emerge, eat the delicious innards, leaving the vital organs for the end, keeping the caterpillar alive as long as possible. Nom.

Yes, another bug picture, hot on the heels of yesterday's praying mantis, both of which can be enlarged for more detail :)