Moths of North Carolina
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View PDFSphingidae Members: Ceratomia Members: 67 NC Records

Ceratomia catalpae (Boisduval, 1875) - Catalpa Sphinx


Ceratomia catalpae
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Ceratomia catalpaeCeratomia catalpae
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Ceratomia catalpae
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, BOLDTechnical 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.
Ceratomia catalpaeAlamance Alexander Alleghany Anson Ashe Avery Beaufort Bertie Bladen Brunswick Buncombe Burke Cabarrus Caldwell Camden Carteret Caswell Catawba Chatham Cherokee Chowan Clay Cleveland Columbus Craven Cumberland Currituck Dare Davidson Davie Duplin Durham Edgecombe Forsyth Franklin Gaston Gates Graham Granville Greene Guilford Halifax Harnett Haywood Henderson Hertford Hoke Hyde Iredell Jackson Johnston Jones Lee Lenoir Lincoln Macon Madison Martin McDowell Mecklenburg Mitchell Montgomery Moore Nash New%20Hanover Northampton Onslow Orange Pamlico Pasquotank Pender Perquimans Person Pitt Polk Randolph Richmond Robeson Rockingham Rowan Rutherford Sampson Scotland Stanly Stokes Surry Swain Transylvania Tyrrell Union Vance Wake Warren Washington Watauga Wayne Wilkes Wilson Yadkin Yancey
Flight Dates:
 High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft.
 Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft.
 Piedmont (Pd)
 Coastal Plain (CP)

Click on graph to enlarge
Image showing flight dates by month for High Mountains greater than 4,000 feet, Low Mountains, Piedmont, and Coastal Plain: adults.
Immature Dates:
 High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft.
 Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft.
 Piedmont (Pd)
 Coastal Plain (CP)

Click on graph to enlarge
Image showing flight dates by month for High Mountains greater than 4,000 feet, Low Mountains, Piedmont, and Coastal Plain: immatures.
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.
Ceratomia catalpaeRecorded by: Simpson Eason on 2025-07-10
Durham Co.
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Ceratomia catalpaeRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-08-06
Mitchell Co.
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Ceratomia catalpaeRecorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2024-07-26
Alamance Co.
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Ceratomia catalpaeRecorded by: Dean Furbish on 2024-06-10
Wake Co.
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Ceratomia catalpaeRecorded by: Nicole Herring on 2024-05-10
Sampson Co.
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Ceratomia catalpaeRecorded by: Nicole Herring on 2024-05-10
Sampson Co.
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Ceratomia catalpaeRecorded by: Nicole Herring on 2024-05-10
Sampson Co.
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Ceratomia catalpaeRecorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2023-09-25
Madison Co.
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Ceratomia catalpaeRecorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2023-09-25
Madison Co.
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Ceratomia catalpaeRecorded by: Andrew W. Jones on 2023-09-06
Macon Co.
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Ceratomia catalpaeRecorded by: Andrew W. Jones on 2023-09-06
Macon Co.
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Ceratomia catalpaeRecorded by: Simpson Eason on 2023-09-02
Ashe Co.
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Ceratomia catalpaeRecorded by: R. Newman on 2023-08-19
Carteret Co.
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Ceratomia catalpaeRecorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-08-15
Madison Co.
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Ceratomia catalpaeRecorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-08-15
Madison Co.
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Ceratomia catalpaeRecorded by: Owen McConnell on 2023-07-21
Durham Co.
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Ceratomia catalpaeRecorded by: Dean Furbish on 2023-06-14
Wake Co.
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Ceratomia catalpaeRecorded by: Dean Furbish on 2023-06-14
Wake Co.
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Ceratomia catalpaeRecorded by: Dean Furbish on 2022-09-01
Wake Co.
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Ceratomia catalpaeRecorded by: David George, L. M. Carlson on 2022-07-26
Greene Co.
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Ceratomia catalpaeRecorded by: Vin Stanton on 2022-06-23
Buncombe Co.
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Ceratomia catalpaeRecorded by: Richard Teper on 2022-06-16
Macon Co.
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Ceratomia catalpaeRecorded by: Gary Maness on 2022-06-15
Guilford Co.
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Ceratomia catalpaeRecorded by: David George, L.M. Carlson, Becky Watkins on 2022-06-13
Durham Co.
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Ceratomia catalpaeRecorded by: Gary Maness on 2022-06-04
Guilford Co.
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Ceratomia catalpaeRecorded by: Gary Maness on 2022-05-31
Guilford Co.
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Ceratomia catalpaeRecorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-05-30
Moore Co.
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Ceratomia catalpaeRecorded by: David George, L. M. Carlson on 2021-09-11
Orange Co.
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Ceratomia catalpaeRecorded by: Jim Petranka and Bo Sullivan on 2021-08-10
Moore Co.
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Ceratomia catalpaeRecorded by: David George on 2021-07-01
Durham Co.
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