Moths of North Carolina

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View PDF	Notodontidae Members:	Datana Members:	166 NC Records

Datana drexelii Hy. Edwards, 1884 - Drexel's Datana

Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Noctuoidea

Family:
Notodontidae

Subfamily:
Phalerinae

P3 Number:
930035

MONA Number:
7904.00

Comments: One of 16 species in this genus, all but one of which occurs in North America north of Mexico (Miller et al., 2018). Nine have been recorded in North Carolina.

Identification

Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984); Beadle and Leckie (2012)

Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLD

Technical Description, Adults: Forbes (1948); Miller et al. (2018)

Technical Description, Immature Stages: Forbes (1948); Wagner (2005); Miller et al. (2018)

Adult Markings: A reddish- to yellowish-brown Datana with a crenulate outer margin and usually with two conspicuous dark spots. In this species and Datana major, the forewings have a paler shade between the costal margin and cubitus vein that markedly contrasts with the posterior portion of the wing; in ministra and angusii, both of which also have crenulate outer margins, this contrast is absent or not as marked (Forbes, 1948; Miller et al., 2018). In drexelii, the costal area tends to be a lighter, golden-yellow (often reddish in our specimens) but is often a darker yellow in major (Miller et al., 2018). Forbes also notes that the posterior portion of the forewing is dusted with whitish or luteous in drexelii but is a darker wood-brown in major. Miller et al. (2008), however, state that wing color and pattern are usually insufficient to separate these two species and recommend relying on dissection or DNA analysis instead.

Wingspan: 45-60 mm (Forbes, 1948)

Forewing Length: 20.5-23.5 mm, males; 24.5-25.0 mm, females (Miller et al., 2018)

Adult Structural Features: Valves of the males have two subequal, transverse flanges (only one typically exists in ministra and angusii). In drexelii, the flanges are strongly dentate or tuberculate; in major, they are smoother or merely irregular (Forbes, 1948; Miller et al., 2018). According to Miller et al., the uncus is strongly incurved immediately above the basal shoulders in major but is more gradually tapering in drexelii.

See Forbes and Miller et al. for additional details and illustrations. Miller et al., also describe distinctive features of the female structures.

Structural photos

Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from photos showing hindwings, abdomen, or other specialized views [e.g., frons, palps, antennae, undersides].

Immatures and Development: Larvae are black with unbroken yellow stripes; the collar is also yellow and the head is dark. The lateral stripes are fused into a single patch on the last two segments (Forbes, 1948; Miller et al., 2018).

Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.

Distribution in North Carolina

Distribution:

County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.


Flight Dates: High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft. Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft. Piedmont (Pd) Coastal Plain (CP) Click on graph to enlarge
Immature Dates: High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft. Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft. Piedmont (Pd) Coastal Plain (CP) Click on graph to enlarge

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: Our records come from a wide range of hardwood forests as well as woodlands and open habitats that have populations of heaths, including pocosins, Longleaf Pine savannas, flatwoods, and sand ridges.

Larval Host Plants: Larvae feed primarily on heaths, particularly blueberries (Vaccinium) (Wagner, 2005). Records from Witch Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) also appear to be accurate but records on other species may represent misidentified Datana ministra - last instar larvae also wander and may show up on host plants not used earlier on (Miller et al., 2018). A BugGuide record apparently shows larvae feeding on Witch Hazel in North Carolina. David George found a caterpillar feeding on Sourwood (Oxydendrum arboreum), and there is also a BugGuide record for this host plant. - View

Wikipedia

See also Habitat Account for General Wet-Dry Heath Thickets

Status in North Carolina

Natural Heritage Program Status:

Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G5 SNR [S4S5]

State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.

Comments:

Photo Gallery for Datana drexelii - Drexel's Datana

78 photos are available. Only the most recent 30 are shown.

	Recorded by: Dean Furbish, Lior S. Carlson on 2025-09-18 Orange Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Dean Furbish, Lior S. Carlson on 2025-09-18 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-08-19 Wilson Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Owen Carson on 2025-08-19 Transylvania Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Owen Carson on 2025-08-19 Transylvania Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Owen Carson on 2025-08-19 Transylvania Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Marilyn Westphal and Becky Elkin on 2025-08-17 Henderson Co. Comment:		Recorded by: R. Teper, D. George, P. Coin, K. Bischof on 2025-08-16 Transylvania Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-08-05 Wilson Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Rob Van Epps, Kevin Metcalf on 2025-07-20 Richmond Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Mark Basinger and Becky Elkin on 2025-06-29 Richmond Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Mark Basinger and Becky Elkin on 2025-06-29 Richmond Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Ross French on 2025-06-28 Wake Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Mark Basinger and Becky Elkin on 2025-06-25 Mitchell Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Mark Basinger and Becky Elkin on 2025-06-25 Mitchell Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Stephen Dunn on 2024-08-02 Chatham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-07-17 Wilson Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-07-07 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Emily Stanley on 2024-06-25 Buncombe Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Stefanie Hedrick on 2024-06-25 Moore Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Stefanie Hedrick on 2024-06-25 Moore Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Lenny Lampel on 2024-06-25 Moore Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-06-23 Yancey Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-06-23 Yancey Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik, Patrick Coin on 2024-06-22 Chatham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2024-06-22 Graham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Emily Stanley on 2024-06-21 Buncombe Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2024-06-18 Graham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-06-17 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Steve Hall, Patrick Coin, Mark Basinger on 2024-06-16 Chatham Co. Comment: