Bright green caterpillar with a horn found in Latvian garden – what is it?
A woman shared on X a photo of a large bright green caterpillar with a horn found in her garden; experts identified it as a privet hawk-moth caterpillar. Though intimidating, it poses no danger to humans.
A Latvian woman recently turned to social media platform X to ask what appeared to be an unusual creature in her garden. A large, vivid green caterpillar with a prominent horn at the rear sat on a plant, prompting her to describe it as a "monster." She shared a photograph alongside her question, and the post quickly attracted attention. Commenters soon solved the mystery: the creature is a caterpillar of the privet hawk-moth (Sphinx ligustri). Nature enthusiasts explained that despite its fearsome look, there is no reason to be afraid. The caterpillar is not poisonous and does not bite or sting. The horn at the back serves as a defense against predators, not as a weapon. One commenter suggested moving it to a sunny spot and waiting a couple of days to see a beautiful moth emerge.
The woman admitted she had never seen such a creature before, jokingly calling it a "green sausage." Another commenter observed that while many small creatures go unnoticed, this one is impossible to forget once seen. The caterpillar can grow to 8–10 centimeters in length, which explains why people might be startled. Despite its name, it feeds not only on lilac leaves but also on ash, privet, viburnum and other plants.
In the second half of summer, the mature caterpillar descends to the ground to pupate. Later, one of the largest moths found in Latvia emerges – the privet hawk-moth, with a wingspan of up to 12 centimeters. Conservationists advise leaving the caterpillar undisturbed so it can complete its life cycle; soon the "green sausage with a horn" will transform into an impressive moth.
