Wind dispersed Catalpa seedling in my garden; a 3-year - old tree with its first brood of Catalpa caterpillars. I discovered the -- what seemed to be 1st or 2nd instars just the other day. This morning they've grown to be this size cats. to my astonishment!:
The tree is roughly 10-12 feet tall, I couldn't possibly get closer for a clearer view, though I noticed the two different types of coloration on the cats. one with almost uniform black stripes on their back, the others with like pokadots patterns:
They sure are ravenous with their appetite!!! These -- used to be leaves, were skeletonized over night. However, it's said that the tree will regenerate the leaves without sufferring any consequential effects from these caterpillars. Amazing!
We have a few catalpa trees in the yard. Our neighbor considers catalpa worms prize fishbait. He collects the biggest and freezes them until needed.
Yep, bass, catfish and bluegills consider 'Tawba worms food to die for. The Catalpa blooms are like little orchids, but so ephemeral.
So the flowers are short-lived? My young tree has yet to yield flowers. Anyhow, I don't plan on using my cats. for fish baits. I am hoping to see some of them making it to morph into moths at the end of the cycle. For now, they will have to survive birds, wasps and even robber flies in the garden! Life isn't a cup cake out there for these caterpillars!
The Catalpa is a beautiful shade tree. Each spring when bloom time arrives, the tree is covered in large white blossoms, each streaked with purple and yellow on the interior. An intensely, sweet aroma permeates the air for about a week. Then beneath the tree, the grass rapidly becomes layered in white as pollinated blooms drop to the ground. Shortly thereafter, "Monkey Cigars" start to elongate (fruit) and one can see the small cats begin to cover the underside of each leaf.
Those cats are capable of stripping a large tree completely bare to a ragged skeleton within several days. All those beautiful, broad leaves that provided shade around the house are gone. You then notice that without that shade, your air conditioner works a little harder, especially on those days when the thermometer hits triple digits.
Four large Catalpa trees are found around our home. Each evokes childhood memories of whip-poor-wills and cicadas singing from their massive branches on summer nights.. I really love those trees. Harvesting a few truckloads of bait will not dent the rising sphinx moth population. So, while the philosophical and culinary rewards from catching a few nice fish down at the pond are considerable, they don't come close to balancing the devastation of those worms. Regeneration of leaves takes a couple more weeks. Then here come the worms again. So, grab some "Tawba worms and take your kids or g-kids fishing. Everyone will sleep better that night.
HBjoe, it's pleasant to read your post this morning. Thank you, for sharing your view. I love it.
Ms Lily-Love, you Alabama folks are so dear to the hearts of Virginia people. May you always be accompanied by the hummm of wings and your spirits lifted by enchantment with hummingbirds.
Why that's the most kindest thing for you to say! Thank you.
Update on these fellas this morning, they're getting bigger and bigger.
Ahhh so ! There is a whole lot of chomping goin' on.
