48 



INSECTS AFFECTING THE HARDY CATALPA, 



The Hardy or Western Catalpa (Catalpa speciosa Ward) is a native- 

 to the rich alluvial bottom lands of the Mississippi and its tributaries, ancL 

 is found from southern Illinois and Indiana, through western Kentucky- 

 and Tennessee to northern Arkansas. It has been cultivated throughout: 

 the greater part of the United States, and has become naturalized in. 

 Louisiana and eastern Texas. 



In its native region it has long been recognized as a valuable species, 

 because of the. rapidity of its growth and the durability of its wood. It 

 has been cultivated on a small scale throughout the middle west for more-- 

 than fifty years. The success of the early plantings on the fertile prairie- 

 soils have led to the establishment of large commercial plantations within ■ 

 the past twenty-five years, several of which have proved very successful. 



In Ohio it has been grown in' a small way for more than half a cen- 

 tury, and in the rich river bottom lands and fertile limestone soils of the- 

 western half of the state has justified the abundant faith of its early- 

 friends. In the eastern portion of the state, where sandstone and shaley 

 soils prevail, growth is much slower and it shows a decided tendency to- 

 develop a crooked trunk, which reduces its value materially. 



The popularity of this tree has been considerably injured through' 

 carelessness in sending out seeds and plants of the southern Catalpa 

 (Catalpa catalpa Karst) instead of the hardy species. The southern spe- 

 cies is much less' desirable, because of its inherent tendency toward a 

 slower and more crooked growth and low branching top. 



The Catalpa enjoys comparative immunity from serious insect ene- 

 mies. No boring insects have been reported as attacking this tree, and' 

 but one leaf feeding insect causes serious injury. The Catalpa Sphinx 

 and the Catalpa pod Diplosis are the two species causing the greatest- 

 damage, hence are given prominence in this bulletin. Several other 

 insects have been reported as feeding upon this tree, none of which are- 

 cofisidered of economic importance. These are taken up in their natu- 

 ral order. 



'^ " THE CATALPA SPHINX. 



Ceratomia catalpae Bois. 



Order Lepidoptera; Family Sphingid.'VE. 



During July, 1905, Mr. G. A. Runner, Assistant Inspector of this- 

 Division, sent in several specimens of the larvae of the Catalpa Sphinx,* 

 which he reported to be stripping Catalpa trees near* Proctorville, Ohio- 



* Prof. F. M. Webster found specimens of this insect in Lawrence County 

 Ohio, about 1896. 



