in the united Kingdom, a 150 year-old specimen in the minster
graveyard of St. mary’s Butts in the town of reading, Berkshire.
The larval stage of Ceratomia catalpa is known as the catalpa
or Catawba worm. When first hatched, these larva are pale in
color, but shade darker. The yellowing caterpillars will usually have a dark, black stripe down their back with black dots
along their sides.
They grow to a length of about two inches and feed on the
leaves of the northern and, more commonly Southern catalpa.
The fully developed caterpillar has a conspicuous black spine
or horn on the back of the insect’s rear. Catalpa sphinx moth
caterpillar is usually plump with forage and are beautiful.
Catalpas are often planted to attract these catalpa “worms”. An
enticing prize for fish bait because the skin is very tough that
oozes a fluid with a sweet aroma. The caterpillar can defoliate the tree once or twice a year, but there appears to be no
adverse effects to the tree.
Continued on page 42
Accept No Limits | outdoorwomenunlimited.org
Spring/Summer 2014 | BLAZE | 41