The Scariest Caterpillar You'll Ever See

With that title I know words are useless. Behold, the scariest caterpillar you'll ever see. Seriously.

What? You can't see him? There! In Aria's dirty sock and samples of grass and leaves! (I told the kids to keep their hands below the counter...Aria just can't stand it. She's squeaking with excitement.)

So as I dragged in my last load of kids, kid lunch boxes and my work bags one night last week Aria slammed the storm door shut before I could get a grip. With both of us still outside. Out of the corner of my eye I saw something large fall on the front step and literally heard a thud. Upon inspection I thought a piece of branch had fallen from...I dunno, the gutter? Then it started moving and both Aria and I freaked, momentairly, and then got a better look.

Instinctually I was concerned that he was injured or cut in half, but he was a  hardy little sucker and seemed A-OK. Of course, what he needed was to be poked a bit by some toddlers, carried carefully in a smelly sock and feed an assortment of green stuff from the front yard in a glass tuperware bowl.

We put in the center of the dinning room table to observe while we ate dinner and just about the time he started climbing out Brian announced that it was time for this guy to go meet up with his friends outside. I promised a very concerned Roland that I would share with the world, and in particular Mr. Dave, our strange specimen. And that yes indeed, he had friends and was anxious to get back to them.

I don't even know where to start when it comes to identifying this guy. Google doesn't have good results for "scary, fat, bark patterned with white patches of skin caterpillar." Ew. But fun! Guess you never know who's coming for dinner!

****Update! My super smart and resident backyard creepy-crawly expert, Ben S, busted out this link that shows what our little guy is: a Giant Swallowtail Butterfly! Next time we are going to keep him and watch him go through his growth stages, Roland would love that!