What do they look like,

How come I never see any worms on catalpa trees around Dallas? Back in Mississippi where I grew up every catalpa tree had them this time of year.

Z

Thanks hex, looks kinda funky but everyone swears by them

Catalpa worms are one stage of a particular type of moth; can't remember just which one. However, after the worms hatch into the moths, the moths lay their eggs in the soil under the catalpa tree. Several things can prevent a tree from having worms. First, it may never get 'infected'. If this is the only problem, you can sometimes bring a couple or three dozen worms in from another tree and 'infest' a tree that has no worms. And for some reason, two or more trees together seem to do much better than one alone. Maybe someone else knows why. Second, if the soil is totally unsuitable for the eggs to hatch, they won't hatch, and there won't be any worms. Same thing if the soil has been poisoned by various bug/flea/tick sprays or granules.

Where can I get a couple of trees? My grandfather had two in his yard and we never get skunked using those worms.

It is a stage of the Sphinx moth.

Here is a place you can buy Southern Catalpa trees at $6.95 a piece. If you look elsewhere it is the southern catalpa you will be wanting for catalpa worms.

you can get the worms at the 155 marina at Lake O the Pines too!

I've got 5 trees in my backyard. I've had them for 2 years now without any success. I've only transplanted once, so maybe that's my next step.

We had tons of those worms when I was a kid. We picked every one of em off and froze them. Those are the BEST catfish bait EVER.

We have a large tree in our yard and it produces well, but lately the birds have been quicker to the punch and have stolen a lot of good bait.

Here's a good article on 'em

http://www.ag.auburn.edu/dept/entplp/bulletins/catalpasphinx/catalpasphinx.htm

Does that horn on the worm sting you??? I would be hesitant to grab ahold of'em and try to worm them onto a hook.

Someone help me out here.

No it does not. The little "horn" is like a hair. I would give anything to find some of these trees around the DFW area. In Indiana when I was a kid, these were the best bait you could ever get. The way I always used them was pinch off the head on one end, then start your hook on the other and let the worm turn itself inside out as you put it on the hook. The oils and scents all come out and the cats love them.