Notice the large, heart-shaped leaves. Some years these are devoured by sphinx moth caterpillers (“catawba” worms). The caterpillars often completely defoliate the trees.   Loss of foliage may be serious, especially for shade and ornamental trees and nursery stock.

While the catalpa worm is well known as a tree pest, it may be as well or better known to some for its attractiveness to fish. The caterpillars have long been valued for fish bait, and references to their collection by fishermen date back at least to the 1870′s when the species was first described.