Moths of North Carolina

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View PDF	Sphingidae Members:	Ceratomia Members:	67 NC Records

Ceratomia catalpae (Boisduval, 1875) - Catalpa Sphinx

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Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Bombycoidea

Family:
Sphingidae

Subfamily:
Sphinginae

Tribe:
Sphingini

P3 Number:
890105

MONA Number:
7789.00

Comments: Six species of this genus occur in the US with a few more in the Neotropics. The genus appears to be an assemblage of several unrecognized genera and our three species eventually will probably all be placed in separate genera.

Species Status: Barcodes indicate that Ceratomia catalpae is a single, well-defined species in our area.

Identification

Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984); Beadle and Leckie (2012)

Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLD

Technical Description, Adults: Forbes (1948); Hodges (1971); Tuttle (2007)

Technical Description, Immature Stages: Forbes (1948); Wagner (2005); Tuttle (2007)

Adult Markings: This is the smallest and darkest species in the genus in North Carolina. Can be confused with C. undulosa but this is a smaller and darker species that usually appears smudged. It is usually captured within sight of a Catalpa tree. Sexes are similar.

Wingspan: 6.5 - 9.5 cm (Covell, 1984)

Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.

Immatures and Development: Caterpillar pattern is variable but usually yellow and black with a black head; larvae are gregarious in the early stages. Pupation occurs underground.

Larvae ID Requirements: Unmistakable and widely known.

Distribution in North Carolina

Distribution: More common in the mountains than elsewhere in the state but may occur statewide except possibly for the Barrier Islands and High Mountains.

County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.


Flight Dates: High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft. Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft. Piedmont (Pd) Coastal Plain (CP) Click on graph to enlarge
Immature Dates: High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft. Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft. Piedmont (Pd) Coastal Plain (CP) Click on graph to enlarge
Flight Comments: Probably two broods

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: Catalpa is native to riparian habitats in the Mississippi Valley and Gulf Coast but is not considered to be naturally occurring in North Carolina. Most records for this moth are probably associated with either planted Catalpa or with escapes that are now found widely along the edges of fields and other disturbed areas. The moth may have spread artificially, since the caterpillars are often raised commercially as fish bait.

Larval Host Plants: Larvae feed on Catalpa species, including Northern Catalpa (C. speciosa) and Southern Catalpa (C. bignonioides) (Tietz, 1972; Wagner, 2005). In North Carolina, we have feeding records for Northern Catalpa. - View

Observation Methods: Adults have a very short proboscis and lack the full set of muscles needed to imbibe nectar. They have not been recorded at flowers but come readily to light but not to baits. Caterpillars can be quite conspicuous.

Wikipedia

See also Habitat Account for General Fields, Gardens, and Ruderal Habitats

Status in North Carolina

Natural Heritage Program Status:

Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G5 SNR [SNA]

State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.

Comments: As a likely introduced species feeding on an introduced, somewhat invasive plant, this species is of no conservation concern in North Carolina except possibly as a control on the spread of Catalpa.

Photo Gallery for Ceratomia catalpae - Catalpa Sphinx

62 photos are available. Only the most recent 30 are shown.

	Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2025-07-10 Durham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-08-06 Mitchell Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2024-07-26 Alamance Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2024-06-10 Wake Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Nicole Herring on 2024-05-10 Sampson Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Nicole Herring on 2024-05-10 Sampson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Nicole Herring on 2024-05-10 Sampson Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2023-09-25 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2023-09-25 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Andrew W. Jones on 2023-09-06 Macon Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Andrew W. Jones on 2023-09-06 Macon Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2023-09-02 Ashe Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: R. Newman on 2023-08-19 Carteret Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-08-15 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-08-15 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2023-07-21 Durham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2023-06-14 Wake Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2023-06-14 Wake Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2022-09-01 Wake Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, L. M. Carlson on 2022-07-26 Greene Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Vin Stanton on 2022-06-23 Buncombe Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Richard Teper on 2022-06-16 Macon Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2022-06-15 Guilford Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, L.M. Carlson, Becky Watkins on 2022-06-13 Durham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2022-06-04 Guilford Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2022-05-31 Guilford Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-05-30 Moore Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, L. M. Carlson on 2021-09-11 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Bo Sullivan on 2021-08-10 Moore Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George on 2021-07-01 Durham Co. Comment: