Species Datana major - Azalea Caterpillar Moth - Hodges#7905

7905

Major Datana (adult)

Azalea Caterpillar (larva)

Datana major Grote & Robinson, 1866

Phylogenetic sequence #930036

locally common

wingspan 40-50 mm

larva to 50 mm

Adult: forewing orangish-brown, darker brown toward costa (not tawny to reddish-brown, as in Drexel's Datana); hindwing solid orangish-brown

[adapted from description by Charles Covell]

D. major is not safely separable from D. drexelii except by examination of the male valves (Hugh McGuinness, pers. comm.) Both species have brown forewings, usually with orange shading along the costa. The reniform and orbicular spots are usually distinct, often quite bold. D. major averages larger and redder than D. drexelii.

Larva: first instars are yellow with seven red longitudinal stripes and a black head. As the larva matures it becomes highly colored. Mature larvae are predominately black with a red last segment and eight broken yellow (occasionally white) lengthwise stripes. The head and legs are bright red.

[adapted from description by G.W. Dekle and Thomas Fasulo, U. of Florida]

southeastern United States from Maryland to Florida, west to Arkansas and Kansas

bogs and swamps

adults fly from June to August

larvae present July to October

larvae feed mainly on leaves of azalea (Rhododendron spp.) but have also been recorded on apple, blueberry, Red Oak, and Bog Rosemary (Andromeda polifoloa)

female lays masses of 80-100 eggs on underside of leaf in late spring or early summer; first instar larvae feed gregariously, skeletonizing leaves of hostplant; older larvae eat entire leaves; usually one generation per year, with partial second generation in the south; overwinters as a pupa in a cell in the soil