Lime Green caterpillar that eats trees

[tcaarabians]

I started out today thinking that this little critter was going to be my biggest problem. It is lime green
and about three or so inches long.. and it can devour all the leaves off of a small tree practically overnight.
Any ideas as to what it is?

Oh, my larger problem is that ,, the Momma cat I can not catch to save my life had four kittens this
morning. So, do watch for an update on this in the 'cats for adoption' thread. I'm thinking about offering
a reward for anyone that can catch her.  cheryl o7o

[Chesslike]

I started out today thinking that this little critter was going to be my biggest problem. It is lime green
and about three or so inches long.. and it can devour all the leaves off of a small tree practically overnight.
Any ideas as to what it is?

Does it look like this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmxZDr5ugI4

I was surprised to find these on my young ash tree as I thought they were only found on tomato plants. They almost completely defoliated my tree and between that and the gophers girdling the trunk, the ash tree did not make it through the following winter and just died.

[tcaarabians]

Yup, it sure does and it totally ate a young ash tree. I mean there is not a leaf left. Guess I'd
better check the other ash trees. Thanks. Cheryl

[lagomorphmom]

Yeesh. Had to look this one up. Actually, I think it's another horned worm.

http://wiki.bugwood.org/Archive:Ash#Foliage_Insects

Check out the links on the Sphinx bugs

No pics but you should find them with google images

[Chesslike]

[tcaarabians]

Well, I did look up the links .. can't say they helped me to identify it .. but thanks. Whatever it is ,, it was
a lime green color and totally ate one of my ash trees. Mom, being Mom, didn't want me to kill it.. next
time I spot one.. I won't tell her.  Oh, I did tell her I could collect them and put them in a glass jar
in her bedroom.   I was just being a good daughter. cheryl o7o

[kew]

You might try this site. Not all of them are green but there are lots of them that are.

http://www.pbase.com/tmurray74/moth_caterpillars

 

[kamperke]

Pick them off the plant & throw them to the chickens; they love them!

[tcaarabians]

Throw them to the chickens... absolutely perfect. thanks, cheryl o7o