Page 514 - The Book of Caterpillars: A Life-Size Guide to Six Hundred Species From Around the World

MOTH CATERPILLARS

FAMILY Notodontidae
DISTRIBUTION North America, from Quebec to Florida, west to Arkansas

HABITAT Woodlands, barrens, and eld edges
HOST PLANTS Oak (Quercus spp.), chestnut (Castanea spp.), witch hazel
(Hamamelis spp.), and blueberry (Vaccinium spp.)
NOTE Communal caterpillar that lives in dry woodlands
CONSERVATION STATUS Not evaluated, but not considered threatened

ADULT WINGSPAN
1½–2⅛ in (38–55 mm)
CATERPILLAR LENGTH
1¾ in (45 mm)
DATANA CONTRACTA
CONTRACTED DATANA
512
WALKER, 1855

During its initial larval stage, the Contracted Datana caterpillar
is yellow in color. Throughout a period of rapid growth, the
overall appearance changes at successive instars, eventually
culminating in its most recognizable, striped mature form. Like
the larvae of all Datana species, this caterpillar is gregarious,
typically observed feeding and resting in large groups. Young
caterpillars skeletonize leaves, while mature caterpillars consume
entire leaves, leaving the largest veins intact. Defoliation
typically occurs one branch at a time.

Nearing transformation, single caterpillars migrate away
from the colony, eventually dropping from the tree to pupate
beneath the soil. Adult moths usually emerge in July to mate
and deposit single-layered clusters of eggs on the underside of
leaves. Datana contracta caterpillars share many characteristics
with D. ministra and other Datana species, both in appearance

and behavior. Radcli e’s Dagger Moth (Acronicta radcli ei) is

The Contracted Datana caterpillar is mostly often confused with D. contracta. It looks strikingly similar but
black with creamy-yellow stripes. The head lacks the characteristic, arched “Datana pose” when alarmed.
is black, with a red-orange prothoracic shield
clearly visible on later instars. (Young larvae have
black shields.) The entire body is clothed in long,
dense, wispy setae, which are whitish in color.

Actual size