Catalpa question

[Hoosierhunting]

Random question here, but growing up we always looked forward to Catalpa worms as the best fishing bait money could buy...and they were free! I haven't seen any Catalpa (or Catawba for some) worms for a decade around here (N. Indiana). I've asked and no one around here has seen them for at least that long also. Wondering if anyone else has experienced a disappearance of Catalpa worms? I know they're the larval stage of a large hawk moth, maybe something affecting the moths? People around here used to plant the trees just for the worms.

 

[j-bird]

All I know is catalpa is nearly impossible to find in my area. I know of a few places that have them but not many. Those I do know are specimen type trees in yards and the like. I know my grandmothers place had a couple for a long time, but the trees came down decades ago. I know some trees come and go as "fads" so to speak and I wonder if the catalpa is one of them? And as they die off naturally they are being replaced with other species. Come to think of it, even most young trees I know of are actually stump sprouts. My favorite fishing bait as a kid was when the cicada!

 

[j-bird]

Just read something on the interwebs about how the worms prefer younger trees for some reason (in the comments section of the attached link)..... If the trees you have as your source are mature, maybe that is part of what you are seeing.

https://natureinquiries.wordpress.com/2010/05/21/catalpa-worms/

 

[T-Max]

North Central Kansas here. My dad has a very large catalpa tree in his yard and it is covered every year. It may be a regional thing. I see a few catalpas in town as well. I'll keep an eye out.

 

[j-bird]

Maybe it's a conspiracy by the red-worm/night-crawler faction!

 

[Hoosierhunting]

Just read something on the interwebs about how the worms prefer younger trees for some reason (in the comments section of the attached link)..... If the trees you have as your source are mature, maybe that is part of what you are seeing.

https://natureinquiries.wordpress.com/2010/05/21/catalpa-worms/

Thanks J-Bird, that’s an interesting read. The author is from Culver which is 5 minutes from my farm. I’m not sure if it’s the wasps or harsh winters but seems from the comments others are in the same boat. I didn’t realize they prefer younger trees and that might’ve something to do with it.


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[Hoosierhunting]

Maybe it's a conspiracy by the red-worm/night-crawler faction!

Walt strikes again!!!


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[Hoosierhunting]

North Central Kansas here. My dad has a very large catalpa tree in his yard and it is covered every year. It may be a regional thing. I see a few catalpas in town as well. I'll keep an eye out.

Is that tree pretty old? That article said they prefer young trees but I’ve found a lot of worms on very large (and I’m guessing old) trees.


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[T-Max]

Is that tree pretty old? That article said they prefer young trees but I’ve found a lot of worms on very large (and I’m guessing old) trees.


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I think my grandpa planted it in the 60's. At the very least it has been there for my entire 35 years of existence.