name this caterpillar

[dondor]

a green caterpillar 2 to 3 inches long,half an inch thick,green with maroon and white stripes together diagonally around the body.can anyone identify.

[New Forester]

Have a look at http://www.whatsthiscaterpillar.co.uk/ Diagonal stripes down the side sounds like one of the hawk moth caterpillars (there's a section for these on that page). Many hawk moths also have a little tail, like that of an un-docked terrier. The food-plant is often a clue too.

[Elfin]

It's a Privet Hawk-Moth caterpillar.

[Cetti]

Agreed. This is a superb pic: http://www.javajane.co.uk/Hawk%20Sphinx%20moths/slides/prive t_hawkmoth2.html