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Species Detail
Catalpa sphinx
Ceratomia catalpae (Boisduval, 1875)
Attributes of Ceratomia catalpaeFamily: Sphinx Moths, Hawkmoths (Sphingidae) Subfamily: Sphinginae (Sphinginae) Identification: Forewing is yellowish brown with no white markings and indistinct black lines and dashes. Cell spot is gray with a black outline. Hindwing is yellowish brown with obscure lines. Life history: Adult moths fly at night. Females lay large clusters of eggs on the underside of host leaves or smaller clusters on twigs and branches. Young caterpillars feed together in groups; older ones feed singly. Fully-grown caterpillars crawl down the tree trunk to pupate and overwinter in chambers dug 2-3 inches into the soil. Caterpillars are often parasitized by a wasp, Apanteles congregatus, which lays its eggs inside the caterpillar. The caterpillar eventually dies as the wasp larvae feed inside it. Flight: . Two flights from May-September. Wing span: 2 9/16 - 3 3/4 inches (6.5 - 9.5 cm). Caterpillar hosts: Catalpa species in the Bignoniaceae family. Adult food: Adults probably do not feed. Habitat: Deciduous woodlands and suburban plantings. Range: Eastern states from Maine west to Iowa; south to Florida, the Gulf States, and Texas. Also Colorado and Nebraska. Comment: Caterpillars are used as fish bait in the Southeast. Conservation: Not usually required. NatureServe Global Status: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery. Management needs: During outbreaks, caterpillars can defoliate catalpa trees. | Documented Records for Ceratomia catalpae
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