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

Datana ministra (Drury, 1773) - Yellow-necked Caterpillar Moth

Taxonomy
Superfamily: Noctuoidea Family: NotodontidaeSubfamily: PhalerinaeP3 Number: 930033.00 MONA Number: 7902.00
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.
Species Status: Adult characters seem to indicate a close relationship to angusii, but larval characters link ministra more closely with integerrima (Miller et al., 2018).
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984); Beadle and Leckie (2012)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 crenate outer margin and showing little contrast across the width of the forewing, from the costal edge to the inner margin (Forbes, 1948; Miller et al., 2018). In drexelli and major, both of which also have a crenate outer margin, the anterior portion of the forewing is paler or richer golden yellow above the cubitus vein and darker below it. Datana angusii, the only other Datana with a crenate outer margin, also shows little contrast across the wing but the ground color is umber brown, without red or yellow shadings, and the lines are darker brown than in ministra. Worn or poorly marked specimens should be dissected to confirm their identification.
Wingspan: 40-50 mm (Forbes, 1948)
Adult Structural Features: Valves of the males have a single, smooth transverse flange; in angusii, which also has a single flange, the flange is dentate or tuberculate (Forbes, 1948; Miller et al., 2018). The uncus is smoothly rounded over in ministra but bifid in angusii (Forbes, 1948). 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 pale yellow, continuous lines. The prothoracic shield is usually yellowish, as are the prolegs.
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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