Catalpa Worms are actually caterpillars! Learn all about their relationship with Catalpa trees!

Both Northern and Southern Catalpa trees originally were found in a very limited native range. They were widely planted outside their historic areas for their value as a fast growing tree, for railroad ties, for fence posts and their ornamental value with abundant large flower blossoms. Catalpa trees and catalpa "worms" coevolved together. The catalpa worms are actually insects, larva or caterpillars of the Catalpa Sphinx moth. The adult is a unremarkable brown moth but the large caterpillars have striking yellow sides and jet black stripe down their backs.
No other caterpillar feeds on Catalpa trees and the caterpillars in turn only feed on Catalpa trees. The caterpillars seem to have boom and bust cycles, few or no caterpillars one year and complete defoliation of the tree in another. Learn more about both the trees and these insects with hands-on close-up video of both tree and insect.

[@air2nine]

I can vouch for everything the gentleman said in this video. I grew up in Natchez, Ms and in the mid to late 80s at my grandfathers house, he had a Catalpa tree. He a friend who was a white guy around his age maybe early 60s and I hate I forgot his name but every summer around the same time we would love to see him because he’d tangle up a few hundred worms for fishing and he’d get me, my brother and 2 cousins, all of us aged around 8-10 & he give us all $5 for helping him. He take a 15-20ft pole in the branches and knock them out of the tree and it was a competition for us as kids to see who would catch the most. That was only the beginning because he usually came on a Wednesday or Thursday to collect and like clock work that Sunday night he’d show up with a minimum of 100 different fish…catfish, white perch and bream. He would bring so many my dad would have to give some away. At the time I didn’t understand or really comprehend what he meant when he said he was going after the big bass because they seem to like those worms. As for the parasites on them, those where the ones he would tell us don’t pick up because they were infected or sick or something because you could see the white eggs on their backs & he said he didn’t want us eating that. Talk about an honest and good man! He’d probably come 2-3 times every summer and in maybe mid to late July, we’d come to Grand Daddy’s house and you’d see hundreds of them crawling down the tree, in the yard going into the ground, it seemed like they all knew to go in the ground at the same time. It was few times where we saw wanderers or maybe at the time we’d see one or two and we never bothered them. Now the tree that Grand Daddy had was big, it wasn’t that small one and his house and that tree was maybe 3-400 yards from the Mississippi River. Before your video because I live in Texas now and we buy bait which isn’t nothing compared to those worms, I’d think to myself, man I wish I could get those worms from my Grand Dad because I know what they used to bring and I’ve still haven’t seen those worms or trees in over 20yrs but thanks to your video I know what the worms and trees are. How I came across your video was from a post on TikTok and I never knew what they were called and soon as I saw the name I went to KZbin and yours was the first that came up. I want to tell you thanks for your information because EVERYTHING that you said in the video is 100% true and factual & I have a whole family that will do the same. Now that I’m older you have no idea how much this video of someone talking about basically a time in my childhood brings cheer to my heart! May God bless you Sir…thank you.

[@natureatyourdoor]

Just wow! Thank you so much for taking the time to share your story with me and my viewers. Just a beautiful story and really well written. This is a story to share beyond my comments! This is the making of a great short story...to share with world and document for your own family history! I am simply honored that you watched my video and so glad it brought you back to so many beautiful memories. Knowing that a video I made can bring so much to just one person makes all my efforts worthwhile!

[@air2nine]

@@natureatyourdoor Absolutely Sir, I talked to my brother last night right after I watched your video. He was always wondering and thinking like me because this was a major part of our childhood growing up. It’s 2 things a didn’t mention last night but my brother brought to my attention…1st my brother told me the one at Grand Dads was a small or southern because 2 houses down was a big one and it was huge, big trunk maybe 25-30ft tall and it always blossomed big leaves but just like on your video it didn’t have the amount that my Grand Dads tree produced and his was almost half the size. That tree was next to a sidewalk and we never walked under it because of the bird droppings but also you could count the one on that tree because it wasn’t that many, whereas on our tree it would be a minimum 2-3 on a leaf, sometimes 4 or 5. I don’t know why that tree didn’t produce like ours but it’s a beautiful tree and those heart shaped leaves grow huge. As for the worms my question is why would the majority have black on their backs but it seemed like the the ones that had white backs where fewer and maybe a little bigger? We would grab them by what we called “tails” and sometimes they spit or spew out a green substance which now I know wasn’t nothing but the leaves they were eating. I hate to bother and question you about this but I could talk to you all day about Catalpa. My brother said they don’t outbreak like they did when we were younger but they do still come. It was always amazing to see how they’d eat those leaves and they’d come back. He also told me the guy who would come, his name was Mr. Preesta, I hope I’m spelling it correctly. He’d always let them get plump before he collected and he’d come look at the tree and worms before he did so…and as you know Sir, they can get big. Also, they had a smell, not a foul or bad smell but you could smell them & I don’t know if it was from the tree or them but I remember that scent. Also, correct me if I’m wrong, this a worn that you can see it’s droppings right?…I thought I remember seeing that. Have a great day and keep up with the good work Sir & if you get a chance to respond, I’ll have my alerts on. God bless and thank you Sir…. Sincerely, Rashard

[@jmcduff185]

Great story! I live in Natchez and I’m in the process of trying to get the catalpa caterpillars on my trees.

[@high_maintenance]

Have you been to the Devil’s Punchbowl?😢

[@HILLBILLY_HARD]

I planted a couple catalpa trees a few years ago. Dug then out from under this ladies trailer underpinning. I already have worms this year!

[@natureatyourdoor]

Hillbilly hard! That is awesome! Wishing your catalpa fast growth and an annual abundance of "worms"! Thanks for share!

[@HILLBILLY_HARD]

@@natureatyourdoor we did take them fishing last weekend but the river was pretty muddy from the storms. Still was able to catch a couple large bluegill and a small smallmouth with the catalpa worms. They seem to stay on the hook well.

[@natureatyourdoor]

@@HILLBILLY_HARD makes me smile! 😃 good fishing! I hope to collaborate with an avid fishing friend and do an episode on Little River, VA smallmouth...a tributary to the New River.

[@merryshort5276]

Someone blessed me with a Catalpa tree today! I'm so excited. I just hope it survives the transplant.

[@natureatyourdoor]

I hope so too! Best of luck! Keep me posted? Where will you plant it?

[@merryshort5276]

@natureatyourdoor I planted it away from any structures with ample room to grow. It's holding it's own at the moment, leaves have drooped slightly but I'm keeping it well watered so I have confidence it will make it. Thanks for your inquiry.

[@gomuningen1265]

Keep up the good work . Thanks for keeping me entertained throughout covid . Today I finally went to my local bird sanctuary and got to enjoy nature .

[@natureatyourdoor]

Thanks Gomu! What did you see at bird sanctuary that fascinated you the most?

[@ellendodge5156]

I’m 76 and grew up in LaPorte County, Indiana. When I was young, my dad hung a swing for my sisters & I under a catalpa tree. I have some great memories with that swing, seed pods, flowers, and Catalpa worms. We would try to swing high enough to shake some of those “worms” down so we could examine them! That tree may have had something to do with my majoring in biology in college! Thanks for filling me in on both the trees & the “worms.” Ellen

[@natureatyourdoor]

You are welcome Ellen! Thanks for sharing great memories!

[@gardenoftwitty]

Grew up with catalpa worms falling on my brothers and I while visiting grandaddy 😆 🤣 Now my mother has one in the backyard. Recent storms broke a branch so I have collected over 100 cuttings from her catalpa tree and found some cattapilars. Left them on the tree for future fishing. Thanx for this awesome video and the knowledge Peace N Love

[@natureatyourdoor]

You are thanks for sharing YOUR catalpa story!

[@frankdavidson9675]

if you want to grow a new catalpa tree free--- take a cutting from tip of limb size of a pencil and about 12 15 in long do this in JULY and AUG. cut leaves off place half the cutting in a pot of good potting soil wet place in the shade check twice a week for wetness do not let it -dry out should see new leaves 2-3 weeks i use 1 gal pots as it grows give a little sun shine 1hr a day i did 20 cuttings 19 lived less luck other time of year???????

[@natureatyourdoor]

Wow . nice I will have to try it ! Great share!

[@wandayoung3901]

Great information! I live in a small town in South Arkansas and we have many Catalpa trees in our little town. I have one tree in my yard and for years had so many Catalpa worms! I love them! A few years back I stopped seeing the worms and could not find one single worm on the trees in town. I believe it was due to the chemical the city sprayed for mosquitos. They have recently stopped using this spray and I was so happy to see worms again! Not very many just yet but I hope the population of Catalpa worms returns. Very informative video. I thank you!

[@natureatyourdoor]

Too much insecticide use ...hard to see a butterfly today!

[@bethyoung3654]

Great video! So much good information.

[@natureatyourdoor]

Thank you Beth Young....i am trying to keep episodes to under ten minutes...but there were so many "parts" to this story...i ran over...so I am super glad to hear your comment! Thanks for taking time to give me feed back...that fires me up for next episode!

[@carlwilliams3360]

I have one in my yard in Thayer Missouri thank you for the video we love ours

[@natureatyourdoor]

Do you have caterpillars on your tree right now?

[@mikesolomon5584]

We have several caltalpa trees we brought from California to Ga. It's funny that we brought it from, a non native place to one of it's native states. The point... We usually spray to keep the worms to a minimum as they are great shade trees. A couple years ago, work had me so busy I never had the chance to spray until it was too late. The worms nearly destroyed the trees. They took all the leaves, and the following year, most of the limbs are now dead. New suckers grew out of the tree and they have been battling their way back to health. I spent a considerable amount of time trimming these trees yesterday to remove the dead branches to give the new growth some place to go. Trying to understand these trees more, KZbin led me to your video. Thanks for your time making it.

[@natureatyourdoor]

Wow! Fascinating. Your trees certainly took a beating! Glad you found my video useful! Let me know how the trees do!

[@Mel-Kaboom]

Thank you for helping me identify what I saw, inching along a trail, near a creek, while walking in a park in Ohio early this September. 🐛 There were definitely a lot of what I now know are Catalpa trees. It was very interesting to learn why it was on a trail and not in a tree.

[@natureatyourdoor]

Thank you Melissa! Cool to hear observations from Ohio! Thanks for share!

[@brettbrignac7591]

You have a lot of knowledge of these animals. The moths are extremely sensitive to crop dusting. Before aerial crop dusting, Louisiana had orchards of Catalpa trees. We used to have local freshwater butcher shops because of the Catalpa worms falling into the waters of literally everywhere in Louisiana! Great Video!

[@natureatyourdoor]

Tell me more about local freshwater butcher shops!

[@JoshGS-pp1rh]

Thank you for this insight I've lived in my home for 5 years and couldn't figure out what type of tree that was until today when I noticed the Catalpa caterpillar and started researching that. Very informative and detailed information. Thanks once again the search is over

[@natureatyourdoor]

Yes..fascinating how one can identify one species or another through their symbiotic relationships!

[@AgdaFingers]

Those are cute and puffy caterpillars! 🐛🐛🐛

[@natureatyourdoor]

They are quite puffy! Lol!

[@TK-4200]

My Catalpa hitched a ride in a planter from Plymouth Ma to NC where I planted it in my new yard. The first few years the caterpillars stripped is clean then took a break for a few years. It’s about 15 years old now and the caterpillars don’t infest it like before. I need to learn how to prune it because it wants to grow like hell.

[@natureatyourdoor]

Congrats on your "volunteer" Catalpa!!😃

[@elbybrook9466]

Awesome video. My Grandma had a catalpa tree in her front yard and that's where we used to get our fish bait. I haven't seen a Catawba worm in forty years or more. I always wondered why they crawled off the tree.

[@natureatyourdoor]

It seems the trees,ans worms are disappearing? So many viewers are sharing only MEMORIES with me!

[@kristepope2400]

Very informative I’ve only known them as Catawba worms and not catalpa I live in South Georgia I’m 66 and first time I’ve heard this I have a large catalpa tree

[@natureatyourdoor]

The origin and use of local common names always fascinates me! Thanks for sharing!

[@shortnsweet1980]

Wow! Thank you so much for this video :) I use to cut back these 'weedy stalks' ... My back wouldn't allow me to do it and Bam -> within 2 years we had Trees! I was blown away. I was just linked to your video from looking up the caterpillar 😁 I hadn't noticed them before and with helping 1 back up to the tree, since it kept circling the edge of a barrel ... I realized that the whole tree was covered in them! 😳 I had searched the caterpillar, which only mentioned the moth but no name. Thanks to your Informative video, I now know so much more than the name of what I thought was originally a weed. OH, and yes to the droppings!! However; i thought the tree had seeds all of sudden. Ours has never flowered though :/

[@natureatyourdoor]

Lol! Thanks for sharing you discovery and joy of learning more about nature! Glad you found my channel!

[@jamessmoak970]

Just to share some info on catalpa trees/worms. In your commentary you mentioned that the worms (caterpillar) will eat only the leaves of the catalpa tree. I had at one time some Paulownia trees near my Catalpa trees, and the worms would make their way to the Paulownia trees and eat. They would migrate to the Paulownia trees because they had eaten all the leaves from the catalpa trees. I have had up to 3 crops of worms during some seasons but 2 is the norm. I even had worms eating the leaves with frost on the leaves. In the south, the worms seem to prefer the trees that have been cut back due to the leaves from untrimmed trees, the leaves, for some reason, due to appear yellower and older looking even though the Catalpa trees having fresh leaves in the spring due to the trees becoming defoliated. You are correct as far as great bait. You can even freeze the worms for later usage. The best way to fish with them is by tearing the worm in half and turning them inside out. The bait is durable as well due to their tough outer skin. Be warned though, they do stain your fingers with their leaf juice. sorry for the long comment.

[@natureatyourdoor]

Fascinating about them going to the paulonia! Thanks for sharing all this info and your observations! Enriching me and viewers!

[@rikiray3370]

So cool

[@natureatyourdoor]

Absolutely! :-)

[@pjchmiel]

I live in Michigan and have dozens of catalpa trees around including some quite large ones, but have never seen one of these worms! I have only heard stories about them from oldtimers who talk about collecting them for fishing bait. Not sure if it's the insect apocalypse or what, but my properties are all organic, I don't spray anything. Maybe I can import the worms from someone who has them.

[@natureatyourdoor]

You not the first to tell me same. Very concerning!

[@kirstenwalsh2789]

I'm in the new river valley and we've always called them bean worms on the bean worm tree lol they are great for fishing.

[@natureatyourdoor]

Very cool, neighbor! I always love learning the local names. Have you seen them this year?

[@w4ame]

Nice very thorough video on catalpa trees. I just received some seeds in the mail today. I should have lots of trees by this fall.

[@natureatyourdoor]

HI Anyy! Thank you! Tell me what inspired you to plant these! And keep me up to date on the success of your seedlings!

[@w4ame]

@@natureatyourdoor I already have grown two three year old catalpa trees to plant by my pond. I was just happy with the idea of growing a tree that makes you fish bait (I raise fish in these ponds for eating) Since then I have discovered my area bait shops can’t get catalpa worms, so planting the seeds now to have a retirement side hustle later.

[@natureatyourdoor]

@@w4ame cool! I have a trout pond as well! I can push some of these Wytheville strain neutered rainbow trput to up to 26 inches and 5 lbs...in southwest VA at 2700 ft? I designed built a spring fed pod. Where do you live? What kinda fish?

[@natureatyourdoor]

Trout pond episode coming soon! 😉

[@Squizzle-56]

Have about 50 of these trees on my property, sell every “worm” I get. Except what I fish with.

[@natureatyourdoor]

Fantastic? What state are you in and where is most of your local fishing?

[@austinjk24]

There are quite a few catalpa in central Texas . I guess people planted them for their ornamental value. Some are quite large , southern catalpa I think . I’ve never seen the caterpillars. Interesting video .

[@natureatyourdoor]

Thank you AKFTX. Interesting about the Catalpa plantings in central Texas. Thanks for share!

[@KandraSmith]

Create video I have a huge catalpa tree that covers my neighbor's backyard. 3 of them actually. Love my catalpatry for the shade

[@natureatyourdoor]

They are beautiful trees!

[@susanbrock1497]

I'm from Kentucky and we call them tobby trees and tobby worms great for fishing.

[@natureatyourdoor]

Fascinating! Thanks for sharing another interesting regional name!

[@adamraynor1026]

Me and family had one of these trees it got very big we always used the worms for fishing

[@natureatyourdoor]

That's awesome!

[@user-di9gx8xm5y]

So cool. I love the cat fish. But I live in Wisconsin. Saw the world from me aren't available to me.

[@natureatyourdoor]

But you got great fishing up there too!

[@keithaustin5919]

Good day sir ,I enjoyed your expertise on this cotalpa tree. I live in Maryland all my life of 50 years and always called this tree a cigar tree but now that I seen this video I will be looking for theses catapillars for small mouth bass fishing .The reason that I was checking on info for this magnificent tree was to find out what kind of wood this tree is made of to see if it was worth cutting up a large branch that broke out of it for making smoking pipes out of it on my old shopsmith lathe machine that belonged to my grandpop .I'm always on the search for different woods throughout our property and the old horse farm next to our house has a huge tree standing of at least 5 feet at the trunk with a branch on the ground probably 30" to 36" ,in guessing the wind put it there some time ago .You were saying that it has some toxins in the leaf and this big old tree is standing in the main old deserted horse field and as I remember them horses would not get no where near this tree and if you know what a horse does to trees around the fields they would eat the leaves first and then they would eat the bark off and tree dies but not this beauty it still blooms every spring and it's a site to see. Thanks I learned a lot from your videos.

[@natureatyourdoor]

Fascinating...especially about the horses! Love hearing first hand stories and observations like this. So enriching for me and the viewers in this learning community. I learn so much more from,my viewer experiences! Thanks for sharing! So glad you discovered my channel.

[@yortsemloh1156]

My parents have about ten of the southern catalpa and they have caterpillars three or four times over the summer.

[@natureatyourdoor]

Cool! What state do they live in? South?

[@yortsemloh1156]

@@natureatyourdoor Lincoln county in southwest Mississippi.

[@frankdavidson9675]

i have lived in South Carolina all my life im 87 yr old lived both ends and the middle of the state catalpa trees all over the state i fished with them all my life --- to me and millions of fishermen they are WORMS i raise cuttings for sell when the reach about 15 18 in tall

[@natureatyourdoor]

That is really cool Frank Davidson! Thanks for sharing YOUR story on these "WORMS"! And really cool you are promoting it and selling cuttings! Thanks for your share!

[@jerrymarshall3787]

I’m surprised you didn’t mention their “droppings”. If you park a car under one of these trees it’ll be covered in hard little caterpillar droppings that resemble mouse droppings. The caterpillars are very soft to the touch. You might even say they’re gross. Not slimy or anything like that , just kind of squishy except for the head which is rather hard like many fishermen’s.

[@natureatyourdoor]

Ha! Didn't think of that...trees I saw were in the field! Thanks for sharing your observations!

[@user-kr4xi1fh5n]

My son raise these worms have several trees good for fishing for cats

[@natureatyourdoor]

I hear from fisherman all the time telling me how great they are as bait!

[@corysummers3008]

Lol that's crazy, cause I live in the ohio valley, they grow like weeds up here. Saw those Caterpillars on them and figured it must be specific to that tree.

[@natureatyourdoor]

Exactly!

[@keithjohnson5190]

I enjoyed your video, I fished with them some 40 years ago. I was wondering if the seed pods were good for anything? Can you plant the seeds and get a tree? Thanks.

[@natureatyourdoor]

Yes! You can plant the seeds and grow the tree. Seeds likely toxic to,humans!

[@streamlinetreecare182]

Poor caterpillars, they get attacked by mercenary ants paid in sugar, while just looking for a meal! Nature seems to have thought of everything first! Trees aren’t as passive as they might first appear!

[@natureatyourdoor]

Ha! I know right? Fascinating example of coevolutionary interactions and battles! :-)

[@rakelaa7234]

hi there! question: what is the importance of caterpillars on trees? I'm just learning about trees and I hear people saying something like this tree host this or that amount of caterpillars. thank you! you're very smart.

[@natureatyourdoor]

Well ...a lot of plants evolved with different insects.

[@jfjdjdji723]

I think you mean: co-adapt, or co-exist. Symbiotic relationships.

[@natureatyourdoor]

👍

[@johnterrance3075]

I was shipped some Southern Catalpa tree seeds. I germinated them, and they're now going into their second year. I planted one last year, but it died. So I decided to keep the remaining ones in my cold frame. I'll be keeping them in my cold frame all spring/summer/fall of this year. I'm hoping that they'll flourish this second year, in my cold frame. I was just wondering : Are there Catalpa worms in Ontario, Canada?

[@natureatyourdoor]

Wishing your catalpa trees success and long life! My short answer would be "build it and they will come!" But I also found this on line! "Catalpa worms are found on catalpa trees in Canada and are noticeable from May through November. They are a natural bait for summer fishing and can be found for about two to three weeks in late June or early July. " Please, please keep me posted as your trees grow! !

[@alaskaaksala123]

I used to catch the worms years ago for fishing here in Indiana. But, I haven’t seen a single worm in about 30 years.. I wonder what happened to them? Could it be all the insecticides from the farm land around here in northern Indiana?

[@natureatyourdoor]

Yes. Exactly. Insects have been in decline for years...even harmless butterflies...pretty scary if you think about it!

[@lylachristopherson865]

We have these in Wyoming!

[@natureatyourdoor]

Wow...didn't realize how far west they can range!

[@lylachristopherson865]

lol, Me Neither. I just now got interested in Gardening and the photo-info app on my phone makes it super fun to identify plants.@@natureatyourdoor

[@rebeccafillmore1667]

My grandmother used these for fish bait. I remember she would pick them off the leaves in our yard and put them in the freezer. When she thawed them they'd still be alive. Do I remember correctly?

[@rebeccafillmore1667]

and I just saved a pod of seeds, How should I go about getting them to start a seeding.

[@natureatyourdoor]

I think more likely she put in fridge rather than freezer..I often do this with insects when I need to slow them down for closeup photos and videos!

[@tommymcweedface229]

On lunch break today I checked a tree and only found 3 worms 2 with the wasp eggs on em. I'll wander out there again and snatch a handful for fishbait next weekend. I suppose they'll last a week in a bucket with a handful of leaves won't they?

[@natureatyourdoor]

They will survive as long as there are leaves to eat! I hope you find more! You maybe shocked how much they eat in one day. You can also put them in refrigerator/not freezer...they are exotherms...so body temp will drop and put them in a "temporary state of suspended animation!" Let me know how it goes!

[@tommymcweedface229]

@@natureatyourdoor cool! I'll leave em out till then, to give em time to fatten up maybe. Thanks, and I'll get back with you!

[@frankdavidson9675]

when you prune a catalpa tree in the fall the will grow back as a fork

[@jayscovill6358]

If I plant a southern catalpa, will I need to get some worms for that tree? We don’t have any around here, so I’m wondering if the worms will just find the tree or I’ll need to put some on it.

[@natureatyourdoor]

I would be shocked if they DIDNT find your tree! Keep me posted!

[@michaelharrison2948]

I remember my father talking about them. He grew up in Georgia and was an avid fisherman. My silly qurstion... Can the caterpillars bite, sting, or hurt you? Thx for your excellent content!

[@natureatyourdoor]

I don't think they do! Lol...but I am always wary of caterpillars...but that is almost always in regard to hairy ones. I have also learned from viewers to never say never...

[@Yo-Yo888AA]

Growing up in S.E. TN. and spending the better part of most summers at my grandmothers house in N. GA. There were 3 or 4 of these trees growing along the banks of the creek we (all us cousins about 10 or 12 boys) used to fish in and we would hit those trees up daily for our bait. I cant remember a time that any of us ever sustained a sting or bite from these (tobby worms) but as he said....never say never.

[@lishamcmillan8189]

I live in Burgaw North Carolina. Since the flood in 2003 the catapillers have not come back to my trees. Why and what can I do to get them back. I have beautiful large trees but no catapillers! Help! Thanks

[@natureatyourdoor]

Fascinating that they did not come back. I can not explain it nor offer a solution. Seems just another indicator of over use of insecticides and loss of insects populations in general.

[@DeesBotanicalBliss]

Thank you Do birds like to eat them too?

[@natureatyourdoor]

Yes they do!!

[@garthbrewster6926]

Enjoyed the video! I was curious if the birds like to eat the caterpillars.

[@natureatyourdoor]

Thanks...Though fish will gobble up the caterpillars, birds seem to find them distasteful. The catalpa leaves are supposedly toxic. In this case, you are what you eat.

[@garthbrewster6926]

@@natureatyourdoor Thank you . There use to be only one tree in the neighborhood and I’ve noticed them multiplying. Until last year I never really looked at one up close. Their blooms attracted a variety of wasp and carpenter bees and others I couldn’t see. So many seeds hanging down and picked up when they grade the road i was hoping the birds would benefit from the caterpillars. I enjoy your videos! Thank you again!

[@natureatyourdoor]

@Garth Brewster you are welcome! Great to have you as a subscriber! Thanks for your support!

[@waakkeuppp]

Looks like my toddler found a pupa or cocoon of one of these - don’t see any catalpa trees nearby - not sure how to best care for this - any advice would be helpful

[@natureatyourdoor]

I think keeping it outdoors under shelter in a well ventilated container to protect it from parasites or predators...then release when it emerges. It will find catalpa trees!

[@waakkeuppp]

@@natureatyourdoor It just emerged this afternoon! I propped it up vertically in a bug box and loosely wrapped it in a napkin - not sure if vertical direction helped and/or the slight outside pressure signaled to it that it was ‘time’ to emerge or what. I thought its wings were underdeveloped because they were so tiny after emergence and my heart sank. But we watched it as it hung upside down in the bug box and it must’ve been the gravity (genetics and physiology also) that enabled the wings to extend and expand before our eyes. Amazing to watch! Have you ever seen adults eat leaves or anything? I read somewhere online that they might not feed and just the caterpillars eat the catalpa leaves - and I read somewhere else that they might be pollinators. Not sure - but when it looks like it’s ready to fly, we’ll enjoy watching her fly. I wonder if it’s best to release moths at night to prevent predator attacks?

[@janegillespie7913]

How many times do they get on the tree each year

[@natureatyourdoor]

Really good question Jane! In the North...say Pennsylvania northward there is one generation per year. In the south as many as five are possible.

[@mybestofutube]

I have a row of Catalpa trees on my property line. I've lived here for 40 yeas and have never seen a Catalpa worm. I live in Central PA. Just now I saw a Catalpa caterpillar feeding on my beautyberry bush??? What is up with that? Didn't you just say they only feed on Catalpa leaves? We just trimmed our trees and there are many leaves much lower than normal. That may be why I haven't seen them . Our house was built in 1940s....so the trees were already quite tall when we moved here in 1979.

[@natureatyourdoor]

Insects of all types seem to be disappearing. Yes ..unusual place to see Catalpa caterpillar! To me it is discouraging that you have not seen the caterpillars!

[@mybestofutube]

@@natureatyourdoor The mountain behind our house was completely defoliated two consecutive years in the early 1980s (by gypsy caterpillars) and though the leaves all came back, they have sprayed our mountain many times. This year it was predicted that these same caterpillars (now called spongy moth) were to do damage here in Central PA. We live on a golf course that sprays chemicals, and across from us is a farm field that uses chemical sprays. One has to wonder what damage this can do to other insect populations. Our son had a tree house up in the Catalpa trees and we had no TV back in those days - we loved nature, so if there had been Catalpa caterpillars we would have known for sure. I rarely see a fruit fly anymore - even when the bananas are quite over ripe. That seems quite strange to me also. Anyway, thank you for the interesting commentary and for your response.

[@todaynotnow]

Is It true that the natives would smoke the bean pods from the tree?

[@natureatyourdoor]

I have not heard that. Will have to look it up!

[@williamminor4318]

I have several trees and it hadn't been a Tampa worm in three or four years what is the problem

[@natureatyourdoor]

Sigh....overall decline in insect populations. Very disappointing.

[@elizabethmagallanes5226]

I enjoyed your video on catalpa trees My father grew up on the far south side of Chicago and there's a street that was named after the catalpa tree My grandmother used to tell me about the catalpa tree and that it was also called the cigar tree due to long brown pods ‼️ So 🤗 several Bibles for your use to compare your scriptures and my favorite is the new world translation because they've taken the things after finding the oldest texts that are available and putting back God's name where it belongs where it was removed by people who had no business removing it honestly I was astonished at the gall shall I say of these people removing God's name from the Bible ‼️‼️ Psalm 83:18 is where I found God's name for the first time when I was told to look up that scripture I know where I was sitting when I found out what Jesus father's name was you see I learned when I was 4 years old that Jesus father sent him here to give his life to save ours I was only four but I learned a lot of things I learned that that Jesus father sent him here to teach us the things that his father wanted us to know , most people know the prayer our father who art in heaven hallowed be thy name,... but without his name how can we make it holy and how can we get to know someone when we don't even know his name and when people have added things to the Bible and taking things from the Bible to make it not what it's supposed to be and there's a scripture that says what's going to happen to those people if they take from or add to God's word but I'm going to let God take care of that in fact that's what makes it such a beautiful thing to be part of God's actual family because I know the joy that is in the future promised by our creator in his word for those who learn about him his will and then act on what they learn ‼️ I am an imperfect human being like all of us and I will not be perfect in this system but when our creator cleans up this mess and everything is the way it supposed to have been in the first place there's a day that's promised that if I do God's will and I endure to the end then I someday will be perfect and I can help restore God's beautiful gift to us that has been decimated by the very ones it was made for and given to but there's reasons for all of this stuff and there's not much time left to to learn about it and act on what we learn You will be in my thoughts and prayers and I hope you go to jw.org there is a new study guide that is interactive You said you don't spend much time away from the internet well what better thing to be doing than learning about our creator who created the catalpa caterpillars The worms that the fish have learned to love along with the fishermen Please take care and please continue caring and I hope that someday you and I can have a conversation about some of the wonderful things our creator has created when we don't have to look over our shoulder anymore thanks again bye-bye for now ‼️🙋🏻‍♀️

[@natureatyourdoor]

Love the histories from your grandparents!

[@frankdavidson9675]

i have 25 +_ catalpa trees in pots hope to have for sell soon

[@natureatyourdoor]

That is awesome! Congrats! 😊

[@roberthavard2848]

How do I keep bees from eating my worm 🐛

[@natureatyourdoor]

Predatory wasps? Yikes...wrap branches in netting?

[@6996katmom]

When we lived in Gladewater, TX, we had catalpa trees all over the place. I hated when the worms would fall because they would fall on our heads. They were interesting to watch, though.

[@natureatyourdoor]

No one loves wriggling things falling on their heads! 😉

[@124bucket]

do they bite or sting you?

[@natureatyourdoor]

They do NOT! :-)

[@124bucket]

@@natureatyourdoor i am in south west va. and we call them peeworms.

[@natureatyourdoor]

@@124bucket really! Ha! Fascinating, I love learning regional names!

[@jmua8450]

That’s T Bone steak for fish.

[@natureatyourdoor]

Lol! Yes.. best description I have heard yet!!🙂🙂🙂

[@eusoon]

The trees were planted in ancient China for Chinese coffin as the heart of the tree rotted overtime and become hollow. The leaves and flowers are harvested as animal feed for swine.

[@natureatyourdoor]

fascinating Ong. Thank you so much for your share. So interesting! Your contributions enrichs my and my viewers knowledge!!!

[@KunPwChckn]

Just picked up like 100 in a bucket. They are killing my fathers 40 year tree.

[@natureatyourdoor]

Wow! That is a lot! "They" say it doesnt kill the trees....but I am not so sure about that during a heavy infestation on a lone tree!

[@dalebaker9788]

Not the way we say it in Texas

[@natureatyourdoor]

How do you say it in Texas?