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
2020-05-28	Vermillion	Revesz, Tiffany	Adult
2020-05-27	Grant	Lara, Anthony	Adult
2019-09-27	Hamilton	Mott, Saturna	Caterpillars
2019-09-21	Noble	Pauls, Brian	Caterpillar
2019-09-21	Noble	Pauls, Brian	Caterpillar
2019-08-30	LaPorte	Dickey, Leah	Adult
2019-08-24	Clay	Padan, Nancy	Adult
2019-08-23	Fayette	Pause, Lisa	Adult (very worn)
2019-08-21	Hendricks	Stonebraker, Dustin	Adult
2019-08-20	Vermillion	Revesz, Tiffany	Adult

Observation Details	Images
Date: 2020-05-28 County: Vermillion Observer: Revesz, Tiffany Notes: Adult
Date: 2020-05-27 County: Grant Observer: Lara, Anthony Notes: Adult
Date: 2019-09-27 County: Hamilton Observer: Mott, Saturna Notes: Caterpillars
Date: 2019-09-21 County: Noble Observer: Pauls, Brian Notes: Caterpillar
Date: 2019-09-21 County: Noble Observer: Pauls, Brian Notes: Caterpillar
Date: 2019-08-30 County: LaPorte Observer: Dickey, Leah Notes: Adult
Date: 2019-08-24 County: Clay Observer: Padan, Nancy Notes: Adult
Date: 2019-08-23 County: Fayette Observer: Pause, Lisa Notes: Adult (very worn)
Date: 2019-08-21 County: Hendricks Observer: Stonebraker, Dustin Notes: Adult
Date: 2019-08-20 County: Vermillion Observer: Revesz, Tiffany Notes: Adult

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