Ceratomia catalpae — Catalpa Sphinx

(Boisduval, 1875)

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

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).

GAIN LP Sightings

Date	County	Observer	Notes	Image1	Image2
2023-08-14	Owen	Pettigrew, Laura
2023-08-02	Washington	Hendrix, Suzanna
2023-08-02	Washington	Hendrix, Suzanna
2023-08-02	Washington	Hendrix, Suzanna
2023-07-28	Owen	Pettigrew, Laura
2023-07-25	Hamilton	Kant, Nancy
2023-07-19	Hamilton	McCord, Dan
2023-06-24	Owen	Pettigrew, Laura
2023-06-18	Monroe	Setze, Tracey
2022-09-07	Marion	Wang, Pamela

Observation Details	Images
Date: 2023-08-14 County: Owen Observer: Pettigrew, Laura Notes:
Date: 2023-08-02 County: Washington Observer: Hendrix, Suzanna Notes:
Date: 2023-08-02 County: Washington Observer: Hendrix, Suzanna Notes:
Date: 2023-08-02 County: Washington Observer: Hendrix, Suzanna Notes:
Date: 2023-07-28 County: Owen Observer: Pettigrew, Laura Notes:
Date: 2023-07-25 County: Hamilton Observer: Kant, Nancy Notes:
Date: 2023-07-19 County: Hamilton Observer: McCord, Dan Notes:
Date: 2023-06-24 County: Owen Observer: Pettigrew, Laura Notes:
Date: 2023-06-18 County: Monroe Observer: Setze, Tracey Notes:
Date: 2022-09-07 County: Marion Observer: Wang, Pamela Notes:

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

• Global status: G5 (secure)
• National status: N5 (secure)
• Indiana status: NR (not ranked)

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
Bignoniaceae	Catalpa spp.	northern and southern catalpa