Moths of North Carolina
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View PDFNotodontidae Members: 176 NC Records

Datana integerrima Grote & Robinson, 1866 - Walnut Caterpillar Moth

Taxonomy
Superfamily: Noctuoidea Family: NotodontidaeSubfamily: PhalerinaeP3 Number: 930038.00 MONA Number: 7907.00
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 Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONATechnical Description, Adults: Forbes (1948); Miller et al. (2018)Technical Description, Immature Stages: Forbes (1948); Wagner (2005); Miller et al. (2018)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: One of five Datanas in our area with a smooth outer margin of the forewing. The head is yellowish but the collar, tegulae, and mesothorax are contrastingly dark, reddish-brown. The ground color of the forewing is reddish-brown and is rather evenly colored and not peppered with brown or silvery scales. The lines are bordered outwardly with pale yellow (Forbes, 1948). Datana contracta is similar in pattern but the ground color of the forewings is golden-yellow, strongly peppered with darker brown scales (Forbes, 1948; Miller et al., 2018).
Wingspan: 35-50 mm (Forbes, 1948)
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: Larvae are black and covered by long white setae. A white subspiracular stripe is present but the other pale stripes typically found in Datana larvae are present in young instars but often absent or only weakly developed in later instars (Wagner, 2005; Miller et al., 2018). Molting is synchronized and takes place in clusters on tree trunks.
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: Woodlands and parks and orchards containing Pecans (Wagner, 2005). Our records come from both xeric hardwoods, including maritime forests and inland sand ridges -- presumably in association with Mockernut or Sand Hickory -- and from mesic slopes and bottomlands, where Walnuts are common.
Larval Host Plants: Larvae feed on members of the Juglandaceae, including Walnut, Butternut, and Hickory (Wagner, 2005; Miller et al., 2018).
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for General Oak-Hickory Forests
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G5 S5
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 integerrima - Walnut Caterpillar Moth

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

Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2021-07-20
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: tom ward on 2021-06-27
Buncombe Co.
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Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2021-06-17
Wake Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2021-06-08
Durham Co.
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Recorded by: Stephen Hall on 2020-08-01
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Stephen Hall on 2020-08-01
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: Heather Burditt on 2020-07-29
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Heather Burditt on 2020-07-29
Buncombe Co.
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Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2020-07-29
Guilford Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Steve Hall on 2020-07-11
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: Vin Stanton on 2020-06-28
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2020-06-13
Guilford Co.
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Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2020-06-01
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Steve Hall on 2020-05-28
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Shields on 2020-04-20
Onslow Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2019-07-24
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Shields on 2019-07-11
Onslow Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: K. Radewicz on 2019-06-04
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: Darryl Willis on 2019-05-01
Cabarrus Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George on 2018-09-09
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: B. Bockhahn, P. Coin, C. Sorenson on 2015-07-24
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: B. Bockhahn, P. Scharf, S. Hall on 2015-07-22
Stanly Co.
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Recorded by: Jason Brown on 2015-07-07
Wake Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf on 2015-06-05
Durham Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2014-07-03
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: L. Amos on 2014-06-09
Warren Co.
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Recorded by: Jason Brown on 2013-08-05
Wake Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Billy Hartness on 2013-07-25
Wake Co.
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Recorded by: Billy Hartness on 2013-07-25
Wake Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: J. Wyche on 2012-07-18
Gates Co.
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