largest catepillar I have ever seen in real life or caught…dunno what kind it was but I took it’s picture and released it back into the woods.
any ideas?
One friend suggested it might be some type of tobacco worm…
When he stetched out he was about 3 inches even longer than pictured…he wouldnt cooperate for the camera…lol…what is that old saying…“never work with kids or animals…”
ron
Did I understand that right? The critter paid you ten bucks so you let him go?
:lol: Holy cow… that’s a heck of a guy. I bet it will become a HUGE Butterfly or Moth. Good you let him back. You should start a challenge regarding the beasty into which that critter will change during metamorphosis.
Lemo
Large? This is large: 
I reckon that you’ve got this fella, a mature Cecropia Moth caterpillar:
(Photo: Jim Kalisch, UNL Entomology)
See here:
http://entomology.unl.edu/images/cecropia/cecropia.htm
And some info:
http://www.ivyhall.district96.k12.il.us/4TH/KKHP/1insects/cecropia.html
Lemo, LOL…it almost cost 10 bux for me to get him off the side of my house…didnt have gloves handy and was afraid it might be somewhat poisonous…ie the danger colors…:lol:
wow…thankyou Marcus!!! You put a name to the face…We get large moths around here (large as a medium sized bird). Beautiful things…White and very light greenish…I am sure there are probably in that same family…
again…thnx for clearing that mystery up…my kids walked in from school a few minutes ago and I showed them your post…much more enlightened now…
thank you
Ron
Errgh! I hate big fat hairy moths, and I hate fat squashy caterpillars even less, especially ones that eat money served on a plate 
Nice catch be luckily it didnt bite you 