Moths of North Carolina
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View PDFNotodontidae Members:
Datana Members:
208 NC Records

Datana major Grote & Robinson, 1866 - Major Datana Moth

Taxonomy
Superfamily: Noctuoidea Family: NotodontidaeSubfamily: PhalerinaeP3 Number: 930036.00 MONA Number: 7905.00
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)Online Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical 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.
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)

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