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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Butterflies and Moths (Lepidoptera) » Owlet Moths and kin (Noctuoidea) » Prominent Moths (Notodontidae) » Phalerinae » Datana » Yellow-necked Caterpillar Moth - Hodges#7902 (Datana ministra)

Species Datana ministra - Yellow-necked Caterpillar Moth - Hodges#7902

Classification · Hodges Number · Synonyms and other taxonomic changes · Size · Identification · Range · Season · Food · Life Cycle · Remarks · Internet References · Works Cited
Yellow-necked caterpillar - Datana ministra Caterpillar - Datana ministra caterpillars - Datana ministra 31 days old caterpillars - Datana ministra Caterpillar - Datana ministra Yellow-necked Caterpillar - Datana ministra Not an Azalea Caterpillar - I Think - Datana ministra caterpillar - Datana ministra
Show images of: caterpillars · adults · both
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
Superfamily Noctuoidea (Owlet Moths and kin)
Family Notodontidae (Prominent Moths)
Subfamily Phalerinae
Genus Datana
Species ministra (Yellow-necked Caterpillar Moth - Hodges#7902)
Hodges Number
7902
Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Author: (Drury, 1773)
Size
FWL = 20-25mm (1)
WS = 40-53mm (2)
Identification
Adult: FW tawny to reddish brown, with no distinct dark shades like other Datana species. Outer margin is scalloped. Orbicular spot inconspicuous, blackish. AM median and PM darkest markings, HW paler, yellowish. (2)
Range
Widespread in the eastern United States and eastern Canada, west at least to the Great Plains.

The similar D. californica, which was once considered conspecific with D. ministra, is found from British Columbia to central California and Colorado.
Season
Adults fly June to mid-July (1)
Food
Variety of woody trees and shrubs (1)
Life Cycle
Eggs are laid in masses of 100 or more on undersides of leaves.(3)
Early instars feed gregariously and skeletonize leaves (1)
The larvae feed on Malus, Quercus, Betula and Salix species. Young larvae skeletonise the leaves of their host plant. Later, they feed on all of the leaf except the leaf stalk. They feed in groups. 2
When larvae are mature they drop to and enter the soil to depth of 2-4" where the pupate.(3)
Overwinter as pupa(3)
One generation per year(3)
Remarks
A common pest in orchards (1)
When disturbed they elevate both ends of the body.(3)
Internet References
Moths of North Dakota - species page
Moth Photographers Group - species page
Works Cited
1.Moths of Western North America
Powell and Opler. 2009. UC Press.
2.Field Guide to Moths of Eastern North America
Charles V. Covell, Jr. 2005.
3.Eastern Forest Insects
Whiteford L. Baker. 1972. U.S. Department of Agriculture · Forest Service.
Contributed by Cotinis on 24 February, 2006 - 9:54pm
Additional contributions by Tony-2, Robert Lord Zimlich, Randy Hardy, dennepj10, Marci Hess
Last updated 5 August, 2023 - 11:10am

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