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Dark brown adult — Owen County (Rick Malad)
Light brown adult — Hamilton County (Carol Johnston)
Close up of the head markings on an adult — Hamilton County (Amanda Smith)
Early instar caterpillars — Hamilton County (Amanda Smith)
Yellowish-green caterpillar — Hamilton County (Amanda Smith)
Blackish-yellow caterpillar — Morgan County (Mark Sheehan)
An Indiana Native

Ceratomia catalpae — Catalpa Sphinx

(Boisduval, 1875)

catalpae Species Ceratomia Genus Sphingini Tribe Sphinginae Subfamily Family Sphingidae Bombycoidea Superfamily Order Lepidoptera Insecta Class Hexapoda Subphylum Phylum Arthropoda Kingdom Animalia
catalpae Species Ceratomia Genus Sphingini Tribe Sphinginae Subfamily Family Sphingidae Bombycoidea Superfamily Order Lepidoptera Insecta Class Hexapoda Subphylum Phylum Arthropoda Kingdom Animalia

Hodges# 7789

Etymology

Ceratomia: Combines the Greek words cero meaning “horn” and tomia meaning “to cut.”

Catalpae: Named for its host species, the word Catalpa originally came from the Native Americans tribes living in the Carolinas who referred to the tree as kutulpha meaning “winged head.”

Pronunciation

Seer-a-TOHM-ee-uh kuh-TAL-pee

Other Common Names

Catawba Worms

Dark brown adult — Owen County (Rick Malad)
Light brown adult — Hamilton County (Carol Johnston)
Close up of the head markings on an adult — Hamilton County (Amanda Smith)
Early instar caterpillars — Hamilton County (Amanda Smith)
Yellowish-green caterpillar — Hamilton County (Amanda Smith)
Blackish-yellow caterpillar — Morgan County (Mark Sheehan)

Documented Occurrences

This map shows the confirmed sightings of the Catalpa Sphinx in Indiana. All sightings were confirmed through photographic documentation by individuals who contributed to the Great American IN Nature Lepidoptera Project (GAIN LP).

species present icon GAIN LP
documented
in county.

GAIN LP Sightings

Date County Observer Notes Image1 Image2
2024-08-30 Washington Hendrix, Suzanna
2024-06-29 Orange Stephenson, Karen
2024-06-29 Orange Stephenson, Karen
2024-06-29 Orange Stephenson, Karen
2024-06-29 Orange Stephenson, Karen
2024-06-07 Ripley Jaskula, Jeanette
2023-08-24 Owen Pettigrew, Laura
2023-08-20 Owen Pettigrew, Laura
2023-08-17 Washington Hendrix, Suzanna
2023-08-17 Washington Hendrix, Suzanna
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Observation Details Images
Date: 2024-08-30
County: Washington
Observer: Hendrix, Suzanna
Notes:
Date: 2024-06-29
County: Orange
Observer: Stephenson, Karen
Notes:
Date: 2024-06-29
County: Orange
Observer: Stephenson, Karen
Notes:
Date: 2024-06-29
County: Orange
Observer: Stephenson, Karen
Notes:
Date: 2024-06-29
County: Orange
Observer: Stephenson, Karen
Notes:
Date: 2024-06-07
County: Ripley
Observer: Jaskula, Jeanette
Notes:
Date: 2023-08-24
County: Owen
Observer: Pettigrew, Laura
Notes:
Date: 2023-08-20
County: Owen
Observer: Pettigrew, Laura
Notes:
Date: 2023-08-17
County: Washington
Observer: Hendrix, Suzanna
Notes:
Date: 2023-08-17
County: Washington
Observer: Hendrix, Suzanna
Notes:
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Ceratomia catalpae Sightings by Month

Notes

The Catalpa Sphinx caterpillar will thrash back and forth if bothered and even regurgitate a green fluid in hopes of grossing out potential predators. These caterpillars are common hosts for parasitic wasps that lay their eggs inside the caterpillar and emerge after the complete their metamorphosis, thus killing the caterpillar.

Conservation Status

Floral Associates

Catalpa Sphinx caterpillars are extreme specialists that are only able to feed on trees in the genus Catalpa, which in North America, consists of two species: the Northern Catalpa (C. speciosa), which in Indiana, was originally native to only a few southwestern counties, and Southern Catalpa (C. bignonioides), which is native to the extreme Southeastern United States and exotic to Indiana. Both trees have been widely planted as lawn trees and have escaped cultivation, which has subsequently also increased the range of the Catalpa Sphinx Moth, which is now likely in every county of the state.

Adult moths mostly like do not feed.


Known Larval Food Sources in Indiana
Family Taxonomic Name Common Name
Order: Lamiales
BignoniaceaeCatalpa spp.northern and southern catalpa