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Catalpa sphinx moth

8 years ago

I generally don't pay too much attention to the neighbors' trees and plants unless something very unusual is going on. While watering the perennial garden today I looked up and realized that the neighbor's coarse foliaged catalpa looked like a pencil cactus! Quick research also explained the large caterpillars that have been crawling across the patio. Many catalpas here but hadn't sen this before.

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Comments (9)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
8 years ago
cool.. natures amazing ...

i would expect the tree to releaf ... keep me/us posted in that regard ...

ken
Toronado3800 Zone 6 St Louis
8 years ago
Wow! Now that is a hungry hungry caterpillar. Or group of them I should say.

Thanks for posting.
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Congrats on your sprouts V1! Although, this tree self-sows regularly so it's not surprising they would be easy to germinate. The trees across the street are only just budding, whereas most all other trees are leafing out. I think Catalpa speciosa is one of the very last trees to leaf out around here. Also, it is one of the first to drop leaves in the fall. First hard freeze and wham! All the leaves drop at once. IMO this has its advantages. They can be cleaned up easily and you're done. I've also been thinking that a Catalpa would make a great shade tree for the house. You get maximum sun on the house in the Spring and Fall. Unlike my Pin oak - which shades the house far longer than I would like, probably well into November!
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I do plan on cancelling the chokecherry. Its too bad, because it is a good looking tree. I like the idea that it starts out green and turns purple. Any other trees that you would recommend that have the same color? I'll have to double check the Constellation Dogwood... perhaps it was mislabeled. Would this tree make a good shade tree for the west side of a patio? They're currently out of stock of the "Ivory Silk", so I'm sticking with the plain Lilac tree. I do like the Serviceberry. I'm a bit concerned that the "tree form" of it will sucker. Is this a valid concern? I've heard that the Chokecherry suckers bad because it's naturally a clump form. Is this the case with the Serviceberry? I'm more interested in the tree from. I'm really interested in a Catalpa, but I've heard the seed pods are messy and poisonous. I would really love the Kentucky Coffee tree... but I have the same concerns regarding the seed pods. The Worplesdon Sweetgum looked nice, except for the spiney balls it bears. I looked at the Mt.St. Helens Plum, but it was all eaten up by beetles. They have a great Autumn Gold Ginkgo, but I don't know if I have the patience for it. Another tree they have in stock (which I know nothing about) is the Katsura Tree. Thanks for the advice!
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You're right, Curt! I need to change the name on their pictures in my Photobucket account. I looked up hog sphinx/Virginia creeper sphinx on the Bill Oehlke site, and the markings are the same. I also looked at the azalea sphinx, because I get those caterpillars on my native azaleas and viburnums every year, but I've never seen the adults. The scientific names for azalea and hog sphinxes both start with the word darapsa, so they're obviously closely related. We have tons of wild muscadine grape vines and Virginia creeper here, so it's logical that I'd get that type sphinx, too. Susan, my moonvines have just started getting their true leaves. I think I'll go ahead and plant them tomorrow - once they get planted, they should grow like weeds, at least they did last year. Nothing could attract more sphinx moths than moonvine flowers! MissSherry
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Sorry, didn't give all details. I still have one tree that does not produce worms. When I had two, there were lots of worms. Now I just get the beautiful leaves and beans (cigars). You think if I can find the worms and introduce them to the existing tree, this will work? I can't seem to find them in the bait shops though. I'm in the around Atlanta area. Does anyone know where I can get them? I did read that they sometimes go dormant after several years of producing. Maybe they will come back. I love the tree anyway.
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treeguy123
8 years ago
It's always common to Catalpa that way in the summer here, some trees seem to be slightly more resistant to the caterpillars than others. Some can have little or no attack, and others are completely defoliated. The trees usually fully recover, however in rare instances with 2 or 3 + total defoliations a year it can kill them, but this is usually in Catalpa trees already old and weakened.
calliope
8 years ago
They are used for fishing bait here. I have a Chinese catalpa, instead of the native and the cats like it just as well.
lucky_p
8 years ago
For sure, those Catalpa 'worms' are GREAT fish bait... Been planting some catalpa seedlings around the farm, as shade trees for the livestock... need to put one by the pond.

I suppose, 'If you plant it, they will come'... plenty of catalpa trees around town here, but I can't say that I've ever noticed one with caterpillars feeding... If I did, I'd probably pick a few and bring 'em home to 'seed' my locality.
calliope
8 years ago
I was on one website where somebody mentioned that there is a question about catalpa sphinx moths on the serious decline and possibly extirpating in some areas. Catalpa used to be so widely planted as a street and residence tree. Almost anyone my age has pleasant memories of one from their childhood. You want I should send you a box of the worms? LOL
lucky_p
8 years ago
Sure! But maybe next year... These suckers grow FAST, but I guess I'd like to get 'em really rollin' before I start subjecting them to defoliation.

You know, I don't know if I've seen a catalpa with caterpillars feeding on it in nearly 20 years...
bengz6westmd
8 years ago
Last couple summers there were some caterpillars on mine -- this yr just a few for a while, then gone. I had never seen them before I moved here.
Nevermore44 - 6a
8 years ago
You sure there isn't a tree-goat infestation going on?

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