Caterpillar

[Chief RID]

I believe that is the tobacco hornworm. The tomato hornworm is a little different but their is not a dimes difference between them. Same in most ways but a difference in 5 spots as compared to 6 on the adult. Both will eat your tomato plants the same.

[Marc St Louis]

This one didn't have any spots at all.

[Chief RID]

The spots are on the adult. Their are differences in the worm also. I personally think the tomato hornworm is much more striking in appearance.

[mullet]

Yep everybody already said it is a plant eating machine. We have another one down here that looks just like it with horns that will light your butt up if you rub against it. We call them Saddlebacks.

[Marc St Louis]

I looked up both of those caterpillars and this one did not look quite like them.  It was smooth from one end to the other with no horn.  The Green variation of the Banded Sphinx is more like what it looked like but still not quite the same

[Danzn Bar]

Marc...
The more I look at it ..it looks like a bastard banded Sphinx................
DBar

[sleek]

Oh boy, that bastard variety is bad news. Man I tell ya, watch out for them!

[Chief RID]

I am not that familiar with the life cycle but it could be pupating. I could not see the legs but it had that look to me. Inmature insects do some weird stuff and that one does go in the ground to spend the winter. that stage would look different.

[stickbender]

     Lift either foot, above caterpillar, bring foot down, quickly, and with force.  If done properly, there will be a green, slime pile.  No Caterpillar.   Safe plants.  Oh, by the way, tomato plants contain an alkali poison.  Which is why for a long time, people thought tomatoes were poisonous.  Just the plant, not the fruit.  Those little pillars, make good fish bait. 
And Eddy is absolute correct about those saddle backs!  When I was a kid, a neighbor had a big Arica palm, Betal palm if you wish, anyway, it was loaded with them!  Their sting, is like a hot wire being pressed against you!  A Bic lighter is great for them.   A bar b que lighter is even better!

                                   Wayne

[Marc St Louis]

It did look like it was trying to burrow underground.

I'm unwilling to kill anything that isn't trying to feed on me or I'm not willing to eat.

[mullet]

If you eat it, Marc, cook crispy with garlic and sprinkle a little of lime juice.

[bubbles]

I knew them as tomatoes horn worms. Did it have a spike on its head? Or is this a different one?

[DC]

If you eat it, Marc, cook crispy with garlic and sprinkle a little of lime juice.

Lots and lots of garlic

[Marc St Louis]

If you eat it, Marc, cook crispy with garlic and sprinkle a little of lime juice.

That's ok Eddie.  As I said " I'm not willing to eat".  I tell you what though, I'll cook it up and send it down to you 

[mullet]

Not sure if it will clear Customs.