Ctaerpillar ID

Can someone tell me what kind of a Caterpillar this is--
and what will it morph into? A moth? A Butterfly? A nasty bug?

It has long, yellow fuzz and 3 long spikes--two behind its hear-and one,
sticking straight up, by its tail.
The head is black and looked like it had two bumps on it--eyes maybe?
Not too visible...it kept moving its head.
It was crawling along the very base of my house siding--maybe looking for
an opening to enter (pupate?).
As it was crawling along--it was moving its head side to side--sensing.smelling?

Thanks, Gita

Acronicta americana - American Dagger Moth

http://bugguide.net/node/view/505/bgimage

Thank you, John!! Glad to see you "surface" again!

Is this an unusual caterpillar/Moth to have around here?
People were trying to ID it on the Mid Atlantic Threads..with no match.
The DOCTOR KNOWS!!!.....:o)

BTW--are you still interested in, maybe, coming to the Swap on Sept. 8th?
Did you ever go and read some of the Posts connected with the Swap?
We all would love to meet you and you would enjoy it-even if just for the food!

I also asked Holly and Ric how far Hummelstown is from them (Dover),
and she said only half an hour. You could ride down with them.
Send them a D-mail....
They are two of the most wonderful, helpful, active people in our group.

Here they are--when they drove down from Dover to my house to help
remove a rotten RR tie. Guests at my house always get this seat of
honor on my Patio.....:o)
Gita

Pictures:
Rick and Holly
The rotten RR tie
After the removal
Ric even brought extra rocks for ME to finish the edging
The finished project--I did this part all by myself...

You are welcome Gita.

I am here nearly every day but I hang out in "Garden Pests and Diseases" and "Vegetable Gardening". I post in those two forums almost daily.

Its actually a very common moth in the area. They tend to hang around lamps at night.

I am not sure about the swap yet. I would like to go but am not sure that day is going to work out for me yet.

John

Well--that explains it! Aren't caterpillars interesting?

I have a patio light and a light at the basement, side and front doors
that are on 24/7.

need to start disciplining myself to turn FOUR door lights off during the day
and then back on as it gets dark. Might save a bit of $$.
Even if ALL of them are CFL's.
Gita

Get a light that is either motion sensored or turns on at dusk and off at dawn they have them at the hardware stores.

probably pay for themselves in a few years

John,

The light I now have on my Patio (on a tall pole) used to have
a dusk-to-dawn sensor. Somehow--junk or water got in it and
I tried replacing it 3 times. Gave up.
Now it has a CFL in it that can last over 2 yrats. Just put a new bulb in.

Motion sensor lights are cool--I would just have to get someonr to switch them out.
Not too handy in these jobs...

Turned all my outside door lights off this morning. Wrote myself a BIG note
and stuck it on the coat closet si I won't forget to turn theb back on.
Will see how this works....