A reader recently wrote to us from Kansas to express concern for his Catalpa tree. He said it was losing leaves and believed the problem to be Catawba worms. This tree is very important to him and his family, and he would like to know how to ensure the tree’s health.

Despite their name, Catawba worms are actually caterpillars. They eat Catalpa trees, and as many as one hundred might infest one tree. Often people welcome this infestation because Catawba worms make great bait for fishing. Unfortunately, our reader is not a fisherman, and is therefore anxious to say goodbye to these pests.

There are several ways to rid your trees of Catawba worms. One natural option we recommend is to mix cayenne pepper and crushed garlic to spray through a garden hose. You can soak the trees entirely, as well as the surrounding soil to ensure the creatures will be gone.

While we understand that you want your tree to bug-free, we also want to let you know that the relationship between the Catalpa tree and the Catawba worms is often considered to be a mutually beneficial one. The trees can withstand the defoliation, and the caterpillar dung fertilizes the tree. Also, the Catalpa tree is the only food source for the Catawba worm, so they depend on their leaves for survival.

To sum up, a reader wrote to us about saving his Catalpa trees from some hungry Catawba worms. Although these caterpillars can be shooed away with a home remedy spray, the relationship between the tree and the worm is symbiotic.

Summary

Article Name

Catalpa Trees and Catawba Worms

Description

A reader recently wrote to us from Kansas to express concern for his Catalpa tree. He said it was losing leaves and believed the problem to be Catawba worms. This tree is very important to him and his family, and he would like to know how to ensure the tree’s health.

Author

Dori Franklin