I was focused on getting my basil plants into the ground when I uncovered several of these guys. So wiggly.
It’s a pupa. Probably a large yellow underwing moth. I see a lot of those in my yard. It’s harmless and defenseless at this stage. Even the moths aren’t too bothersome, except that my Athena Kitty likes to bring them into the house. But the caterpillar stage is typical hungry, hungry caterpillar. It eats all kinds of plants I don’t want it to eat. Sometimes, they’re called cutworms because the larvae love to chew plants off right at the base.
More about the moth here. It’s relatively new to Idaho.
~Debbie