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

Datana perspicua Grote & Robinson, 1865 - Spotted Datana Moth

Datana perspicuaDatana perspicuaDatana perspicuaDatana perspicua
Taxonomy
Superfamily: Noctuoidea Family: NotodontidaeSubfamily: PhalerinaeP3 Number: 930039 MONA Number: 7908.00
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                                                                                 
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
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 variety of forested and open habitats.
Larval Host Plants: Larvae feed on Sumacs (Rhus sp.) (Wagner, 2005). In North Carolina, caterpillars have been observed feeding on Winged Sumac (Rhus copallinum) and Michaux's Sumac (Rhus michauxii). - View
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for General Sumac Thickets and Poison Ivy Tangles
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G5 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 perspicua - Spotted Datana Moth

Photos: 20

Recorded by: Andrew W. Jones on 2023-07-18
Polk Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Andrew W. Jones on 2023-07-18
Polk Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-06-29
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Steve Hall and Bo Sullivan on 2022-08-29
Moore Co.
Comment: Larva was feeding on Winged Sumac.
Recorded by: Steve Hall, Bo Sullivan, Jim Petranka on 2022-07-25
Moore Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Bo Sullivan, and Steve Hall on 2022-07-25
Scotland Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Bo Sullivan, and Steve Hall on 2022-07-24
Moore Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Bo Sullivan, and Steve Hall on 2022-07-24
Moore Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Bo Sullivan on 2021-08-10
Richmond Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Bo Sullivan on 2021-08-10
Scotland Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Bo Sullivan on 2021-08-09
Moore Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-07-22
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David L. Heavner on 2019-06-28
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David L. Heavner on 2019-06-28
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2018-06-27
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: J. A. Anderson on 2016-08-24
Surry Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jeff Beane on 2012-08-24
Scotland Co.
Comment: Feeding on Rhus michauxii, an Endangered Species		Recorded by: Jeff Beane on 2012-08-24
Scotland Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jeff Beane on 2012-08-24
Scotland Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: T. DeSantis on 2011-06-24
Camden Co.
Comment: