Material Culture 21(1): 23–45. However, more recent research may indicate the caterpillars are not as harmful as once thought. Sipe, W.A. It can be found from Maine, west to Iowa, south to Florida, the Gulf States and Texas. Catalpa sphinx caterpillar, which are sometimes called catalpa worms. The forewings possess a grey spot that is rimmed in black. By entering your email, you consent to receive communications from Penn State Extension. Watson. Map from Butterflies and Moths (2019). Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder. Ceratomia catalpae is a native of southeastern North America and can be located on catalpa trees that grow within this region. Photograph by Katja Schulz via Flickr, cropped and used under a CC BY 2.0 license. Because they are a native species, catalpa worms are attacked by a number of natural enemies, including various wasp and fly parasitoids. The brown moth is large with a small black ring on each wing. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. The larvae will go into a "wandering" stage where it leaves the catalpa tree and climbs to the ground to find a place to bury itself so that it may pupate. Dark lines cross the wings, but it may get overlooked as it is not as showy as other Sphinx Moths. As far as known, these caterpillars are not equipped with hollow, poison-bearing setae or spines typical of true urticating species. Its demise is inevitable, though, and the wasps that hatch from the cocoons seek new catalpa worms into which they deposit their eggs. Cotesia congretata also parasitizes other sphinx moth caterpillars, including tomato and tobacco hornworms; interestingly, there is apparently little gene flow between catalpa worm- and tomato hornworm-infesting populations such that they may be in the middle of becoming distinct, host-specific species. Catalpa worms are sometimes used as fishing bait, especially in the southern US. "They always come back. Broad-spectrum insecticides should be avoided because of their detrimental impacts to natural enemies, which may make subsequent outbreaks worse. During non-outbreak years, natural enemies often exert enough control on catalpa worms that additional control measures are unnecessary or even detrimental as catalpa sphinx populations, especially in the south where multiple generations occur, may recover faster than natural enemies and outbreak sooner than they would have. Unlike other commonly encountered, similarly colored sphinx moths (e.g., tomato hornworm), catalpa sphinxes lack yellow spots on the abdomen. Caterpillars that are parasitized should be left on the tree in order to allow the parasitoids to emerge. Both of these are poisonous to humans and animals alike. This species has historically been found in Maine and northern New England but may now be absent from that region. Each forewing has a small, dark mark towards the middle, with a white dot in the cell. The wingspan is 65–95 mm. The yellow caterpillars will usually have a dark, black stripe down their back along with black dots along their sides. 3 pp. If control is desired, there are a number of tactics that can be employed. Butterflies and Moths of North America, catalpa sphinx. Catalpa worms feed exclusively on trees in the genus Catalpa, including native northern and southern catalpa (C. speciosa and C. bignonioides, respectively) as well as non-native species like Chinese catalpa (C. ovata) that are occasionally planted as ornamentals. Farmers Bulletin, Bulletin 705. Pupae overwinter in soil around the base of the host tree. Missouri Botanical Garden: Catalpa Speciosa, Missouri Botanical Garden: Catalpa Bignonioides, The Type of Caterpillar That Attacks Catalpa Trees, How to Identify a Pod Hanging on a Cypress Branch. © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. Catalpa spp. The research of Stephen L. Peele, curator of the Florida Mycology Research Center, indicates that catalpa trees might be completely defoliated multiple times during a single summer yet still survive and return to full health, a process which, Peele says, no other tree could survive. Read and follow directions and safety precautions on labels. Catalpa sphinx are native to the eastern United States and can be found wherever catalpa trees occur from New Hampshire and Nebraska south to the Florida and Texas (Figure 1). Bowers, M.D. The reasons for this are unclear but may be tied to the genetics of individual trees. Photograph by Thom Wilson via Bugguide, used with permission. Where multiple broods occur, pupae will eclose in two weeks, or when conditions are suitable. Eldeib, and B. L. Brown. The catalpa worms are pests of the catalpa tree (Catalpa species), feeding on the tree’s leaves, sometimes to the point of defoliation. Howard, L.O., and F. H. Chittenden. Catalpa worm parasitized by Cotesia congretata. 2015. 2017. During large outbreaks, smaller individual branches may be killed, but this is unlikely to affect the long-term health of the tree. The flowers and beans are said to not be poisonous, though. Figure 4. Hostplant suitability and defensive chemistry of the catalpa sphinx, Ceratomia catalpa. Adult C. catalpae do not reflect the wonderful colors of their larvae. Dispose of empty containers right away, in a safe manner and place. The most common parasitoid that attacks catalpa worms are Cotesia congregate wasps. A female wasp deposits her eggs inside the body of a catalpa worm, where they hatch into larvae that feed on the worm’s insides. However, they are a native species that are attacked by a host of natural enemies, so control is often not warranted. Adult moths are large, brown moths with thick, cigar-shaped bodies (Figure 3). In other areas where it is not yet an invasive threat, it may be on the watch list for its invasive potential. Some trees are defoliated more frequently and may be more attractive to catalpa sphinxes than others. The catalpa tree’s prolific seed production, coupled with its high germination rate, places it on some invasive plant species lists. 2a-c). Catalpa trees are the sole plant hosts for catalpa caterpillars, commonly called catalpa worms. Get notified when we have news, courses, or events of interest to you. In the fall or early spring, after the caterpillars burrow into the soil to pupate and before the adult moths emerge, the soil around the tree can be tilled in an effort to destroy the pupae. These beneficial insects, which include more than 1,900 North American species, help control plant pests by parasitizing them. It is considered a pest mainly because the catalpa tree is popular for it’s magnificent wood that is used for fine cabinetry. The first trial of aerial crop dustingwas an attempt to control the catalpa sphinx. Braconid wasps are harmless to people because they do not sting. Figure 1. Environmental Horticulture Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. catalpa worm (caterpillar), catawba worm (caterpillar, primarily in the southern US), catalpa sphinx (adult moth) C. catalpae can be quite harmful to the catalpa tree during large outbreaks. Method of preserving live Ceratomia catalpae larvae for use as fishing bait. Only one generation occurs in northern areas, including Pennsylvania, while up to five generations can occur in southern areas (e.g., Louisiana). A patent for preserving live catalpa worms for bait was filed in 2003. When the larvae are ready to pupate, they eat their way out of the worm and spin tiny cocoons that they attach to the worm’s back. The first trial of aerial crop dusting was an attempt to control the catalpa sphinx. The body is approximately 30 mm long. Comeaux, M. 1989. The short six-week life cycle of the catalpa sphinx moth makes it possible for three or four generations to occur in a single year, which means that eggs, larvae, pupae and adult moths from different generations may be present all at once on the same tree. You must have JavaScript enabled in your browser to utilize the functionality of this website. 1993. The species was first described by Jean Baptiste Boisduval in 1875. Catalpa sphinx moths are a boom-and-bust species. If an individual tree is continuously defoliated by catalpa worms and appears to be in decline, it may be best to remove and replace it with a catalpa with different genetics or with a different tree species altogether. Parasitic wasps are also called braconid wasps because they belong to the Braconidae insect family. Do not contaminate forage, streams, or ponds. See All Pest, Disease and Weed Identification, See All Beer, Hard Cider, and Distilled Spirits, See All Community Planning and Engagement. Tiny parasitic wasps use catalpa worms as a living incubator for their eggs and nursery for their hatchling larvae. Masses of 100–1,000 eggs are laid on the underside of catalpa leaves. Annals of the Entomological Society of America, 108(6): 1014–1025. However, more recent research may indicate the caterpillars are not as harmful as once thought. Important tree species – Southern catalpa, Catalpa bignonioides: The fishing bait tree. Pesticides are poisonous. Healthy catalpa trees can withstand complete defoliation by catalpa worms and will often push out a second set of leaves if defoliation happens early in the season. Photograph by Matthew Beziat via Flickr, used under a CC BY-NC 2.0 license. The larvae of the Catalpa Sphinx are interesting to look at. When first hatching, the larvae are very pale, but become darker toward the last instars. The female sphinx moth lays eggs in clusters on the undersides of catalpa leaves. Important tree species – Southern catalpa. Entering your postal code will help us provide news or event updates for your area. The adult catalpa sphinx is brown with a circular band of dark brown or black surrounding its thorax. However, the scare tactic does not work for a tiny 1/2-inch-long wasp that is approximately 6 times smaller than the 3-inch-long catalpa worm. Answer: For the most part, catalpa trees are not poisonous. The poisonous parts of the tree are the roots and possibly the leaves as well. One of the best natural insecticides is one you don’t have to purchase, mix or even apply. The caterpillars may be difficult to find or even completely absent from an area for one to a few years before outbreaking for one to a few years. 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