barnetmill

I was talking to some friends in west milton florida while helping them trim trees (I get live oak firewood from them). The lady of the house mentioned that her mother's place was full of Catawba Trees and the "worms" she allowed people to pick these moth larva at 12.5 cents each. One of my neighbors has been raising these for his own fishing needs so I know the moths and the trees will thrive at my place and one of my other neighbors has recently started trees. It is something I might look into for a little side income. Do any of the readers here have any experience with these trees and insects?

Dean W.

From my experience they are basically a trash tree. At least when I grew them, but that was here in Texas. They are very easy to grow from seeds. I grew a huge one that is still alive. I have no experience with the worms though I have heard or read of them. Good luck.

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barnetmill

Not too much reason to grow the trees w/o the worms. For the tree itself: the tree can grow up to four feet per year, and the wood is quite soft. There is no rot since all parts of the Catalpa trees contain toxins. The durable wood has been used as fence posts by the Indians and early American colonists. The toxins contained in the Catalpa trees were used as a cure for intestinal worms by American colonists and American Indians. http://www.tytyga.com/The-Southern-C...Tree-a/434.htm

RobG7aChattTN

I actually love the trees. They are very tropical looking and have nice blooms. The catalpa worms can defoliate a tree and get pretty big (maybe 5 inches long). They are supposed to be great catfish bait and some places on-line will ship them either alive or frozen.