A reader recently contacted us through Facebook about a caterpillar she discovered on her doorstep. She said it is dark brown and black, appears to be strong, has a “spider-like” texture, and a bulbous head.

The photos she attached are excellent quality, and they capture many details of the creature. Therefore, we are confident that we can figure out what species this caterpillar is!

We believe that this caterpillar is a Hawk-Moth Caterpillar, and a part of the Sphingidae family. These caterpillars can be found in grassy or woody areas, forests and gardens. Hawk-Moth Caterpillars are often green, but have also been described as black and brown. They eat haw, straw, and grass. Although we don’t know how this creature ended up on our reader’s doorstep, she shouldn’t be nervous because they are completely harmless to humans. If she doesn’t want this little guy hanging around, she could gently place it back in the garden, or take it to a nearby forest.

To end, a reader found what we believe to be a Hawk-Moth Caterpillar on her doorstep!