Moths of North Carolina

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View PDF	Notodontidae Members:	Datana Members:	217 NC Records

Datana major Grote & Robinson, 1866 - Major Datana

Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Noctuoidea

Family:
Notodontidae

Subfamily:
Phalerinae

P3 Number:
930036

MONA Number:
7905.00

Other Common Name:
Azalea Caterpillar Moth

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)

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. In this species and Datana drexelii, the forewings have a paler shade between the costal margin and cubitus vein that markedly contrasts with the lower portion of the wing; this contrast is missing in ministra and angusii, the other two species in this genus that have a crenulate outer margin. The orbicular and reniform spots are also conspicuous in these two species but not in ministra and angusii (Forbes, 1948). Datana major can be distinguished from drexelii in that the costal area tends to be a darker yellow, compared to the lighter, golden-yellow (or reddish) in drexelii (Miller et al., 2018). Forbes also notes that the lower portion of the forewing is a darker wood-brown in major but dusted with whitish or luteous in drexelii. Miller et al., 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: 50-60 mm (Forbes, 1948)

Forewing Length: 23-24 mm, males; 26.6-28 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 major, the flanges are smooth to somewhat irregular; in drexelii, they are rough or tuberculate (Forbes, 1948; Miller et al., 2018). According to Miller et al., the shaft of the uncus gradually tapers from the basal shoulders in drexelii but is more abruptly incurved in major. 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 rows of yellow spots; in other species of Datana, the rows are continuous lines of yellow or white rather than broken into spots. The head, prolegs, and anal plate are all red (Forbes, 1948)

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: Bogs, acid swamps, and woodlands (Wagner, 2005). Over 90% of our records -- many verified by dissection -- come from the Coastal Plain. In that province, the majority of records come from savannas and flatwoods, swamps, peatlands, and wetland margins. In the Mountains, records come primarily from cove forests and riparian habitats.

Larval Host Plants: Larvae feed on heaths, but mainly genera other than Vaccinium, the main host used by Datana drexelli (Wagner, 2005). Recorded hosts include azaleas (Rhododendron), doghobble (Leucothoe), Lyonia, and Chamaedaphne, all of which are consistent with the habitats recorded for this species in North Carolina. Farkleberry (Vaccinium arboreum), however, is reportedly used along the Gulf Coast and Deerberry (Vaccinium stamineum) in the Ohio Valley (Miller et al., 2018). The habitats of those heaths -- primarily dry, sandy, or rocky upland forests in both cases - are seldom used by D. major in North Carolina. We have feeding records for Swamp Fetterbush (Eubotrys racemosus), Lyonia, and Rhododendron. - View

Wikipedia

See also Habitat Account for General Wet-Mesic Acidic Shrublands

Status in North Carolina

Natural Heritage Program Status:

Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G4G5 SNR [S3S4]

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 major - Major Datana

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

	Recorded by: Allison Garton on 2025-09-01 Moore Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Michael P Morales on 2025-08-15 Cumberland Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Michael P Morales on 2025-08-15 Cumberland Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Michael P Morales on 2025-08-15 Cumberland Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Mark Basinger and Becky Elkin on 2025-08-03 Moore Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-07-29 Wilson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-07-29 Wilson Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Dale Morgan, Patrick Coin, Julie Tuttle, Becky Watkins, et al. on 2025-07-26 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jeff Niznik, David George, Rob Van Epps, Kevin Metcalf on 2025-07-20 Richmond Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Patrick Coin on 2025-06-29 Moore Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: John Petranka on 2024-08-31 Orange Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-07-28 Rowan Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-07-28 Rowan Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Stephen Hall on 2023-08-18 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Stephen Hall on 2023-08-18 Orange Co. Comment:		Recorded by: R. Newman on 2023-07-31 Carteret Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2023-07-25 Wake Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Stephen Hall on 2023-07-16 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Bo Sullivan, and Steve Hall on 2022-07-24 Moore Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Brighton on 2021-09-19 Dare Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Brighton on 2021-09-19 Dare Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Brighton on 2021-09-19 Dare Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: J Buie on 2020-10-07 Stokes Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Steve Taylor on 2020-09-08 Beaufort Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Steve Taylor on 2020-09-08 Beaufort Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Stephen Hall and John Amoroso on 2016-10-01 Bladen Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: ASH on 2012-07-31 Moore Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Paul Scharf on 2011-07-16 Warren Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: ASH on 2010-09-18 Moore Co. Comment:		Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2010-09-11 Beaufort Co. Comment: