Bulbs
Flower Basics
Flower Beds & Specialty Gardens
Flower Garden
Garden Furniture
Garden Gnomes
Garden Seeds
Garden Sheds
Garden Statues
Garden Tools & Supplies
Gardening Basics
Green & Organic
Groundcovers & Vines
Growing Annuals
Growing Basil
Growing Beans
Growing Berries
Growing Blueberries
Growing Cactus
Growing Corn
Growing Cotton
Growing Edibles
Growing Flowers
Growing Garlic
Growing Grapes
Growing Grass
Growing Herbs
Growing Jasmine
Growing Mint
Growing Mushrooms
Orchids
Growing Peanuts
Growing Perennials
Growing Plants
Growing Rosemary
Growing Roses
Growing Strawberries
Growing Sunflowers
Growing Thyme
Growing Tomatoes
Growing Tulips
Growing Vegetables
Herb Basics
Herb Garden
Indoor Growing
Landscaping Basics
Landscaping Patios
Landscaping Plants
Landscaping Shrubs
Landscaping Trees
Landscaping Walks & Pathways
Lawn Basics
Lawn Maintenance
Lawn Mowers
Lawn Ornaments
Lawn Planting
Lawn Tools
Outdoor Growing
Overall Landscape Planning
Pests, Weeds & Problems
Plant Basics
Rock Garden
Rose Garden
Shrubs
Soil
Specialty Gardens
Trees
Vegetable Garden
Yard Maintenance
Catalpa Worms as Bait
Catalpa Worms as Bait. The Catalpa worm, also known as the catawba worm, is actually the larva of the sphinx moth. Reaching up to 3 inches in length, the black and green striped caterpillar infests catalpa trees and is a much desired bait among fishermen.
The Catalpa worm, also known as the catawba worm, is actually the larva of the sphinx moth. Reaching up to 3 inches in length, the black and green striped caterpillar infests catalpa trees and is a much desired bait among fishermen.
Catalpa Worm Lifecycle
The catalpa sphinx pupae emerge from overwintering soil in spring. The moths mate and lay 100 to 1,000 eggs under catalpa leaves on which the newly hatched caterpillars feed and skeletonize. Their total life-cycle is some six weeks with three to four generations occurring within a season.
Fishing Bait
During spring and summer the worms may be picked directly from catalpa leaves or you may shake the trees and collect the fallen caterpillars. Anglers thread the worms directly onto a fishing hook or turn a sliced worm inside out to expose the worm's scent to attract fish.
Storing Catalpa Worms
To preserve catalpa worms, anglers store them in containers in the fridge. For longer-term storage, the worms can be layered in cornmeal or sawdust within a suitable container and placed in a freezer for later thawing.
