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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Butterflies and Moths (Lepidoptera) » Moths » Noctuoidea » Prominent Moths (Notodontidae) » Phalerinae » Datana » Azalea Caterpillar Moth - Hodges#7905 (Datana major)
Photo#225014
Azalea Caterpillar Moth - Datana major
Copyright © 2008 Rich Kelly

Azalea Caterpillar Moth - Datana major
Edgewood Preserve, Suffolk County, New York, USA
September 13, 2008
Size: 50 mm +/-
On Staggerbush in oak brush plains habitat. I've been told that this is Datana ranaeceps, but I can't find photo of this species. Looks like D. major from the Guide, but range seems wrong.
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Contributed by Rich Kelly on 14 September, 2008 - 1:39pm
Last updated 14 September, 2008 - 5:27pm

Datana major
Both major and ranaeceps feed on staggerbush (Lyonia mariana). Ranaeceps has complete yellow lines in the last instar, and it is listed as rare in NY by the Natural Heritage Program (NHP). While under contract to NHP, I found the mature larvae over a decade ago at the county-owned remnant of the Hempstead Plains in Nassau County on Long Island. P.S. Nice photo!
… Skip Blanchard, 16 September, 2008 - 7:31pm login or register to post comments

agreed
does look like it could be Datana major--it is listed in Wagner (p.298) as being in NJ, which isn't that far from where you are.

Also, the other option is Datana ranaeceps, and is listed as being in Long Island.(p.298)

In comparing the two photos to yours, I'd lean toward D. major, b/c ranaeceps yellow lines appear unbroken, whereas your specimens lines are broken into segments separated by the black background.
Nina
… Nina, 14 September, 2008 - 3:20pm login or register to post comments

 
Ok, thanks for your help. Go
Ok, thanks for your help. Good info about pattern of lines. I don't have Wagner yet.
… Rich Kelly, 14 September, 2008 - 5:24pm login or register to post comments

 
Wagner
I waited about a year into my moth hobby to see if I'd stick with it before shelling out the big $$ for the caterpillar book. You might see if you can find it used and save some $. That's what I did to get my copy of Covell's field guide.
Nina
… Nina, 14 September, 2008 - 6:53pm login or register to post comments

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