Manduca sexta

Commonly known as the Carolina sphinx moth and the tobacco hawk moth (as adults) and the tobacco hornworm and the goliath worm (as larvae).  Mom and I found this caterpillar today while doing some yard work.  And what a bigun!  About the size of my index finger.

This is the very first shot posted online from my new camera.  One of my DeviantArt friends, Lothringen  was so very generous as to gift me a like-new condition Canon 450D!  It's an EOS but much newer and more advanced than the one I've been using for years now.  My old one is steadily giving up the ghost and this new camera has come along just in the nick of time.  Thank you so much!!